CYPRUS - GUIDANCE FOR APRIL 30 SECURITY COUNCIL

UNCLAS STATE 043041 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNSC KPKO PBTS GR TU CY UK SUBJECT: CYPRUS - GUIDANCE FOR APRIL 30 SECURITY COUNCIL CONSULTATIONS ¶1. (U) This is an action request: USUN is instructed to draw from the points below during UN Security Council consultations on Cyprus scheduled for April 30, 2009. ¶2. (U) Begin points: -- Thank you Mr. President. I would like to welcome Special Advisor Downer to the Council and thank you for your briefing today and for your strong support for Cypriot-led efforts to reach a comprehensive settlement. -- Mr. Downer, I was greatly encouraged to hear the optimism you expressed that the two sides are taking advantage of this unique opportunity in time to reach a lasting and durable settlement. Mr. Christofias and Mr. Talat have made commendable progress since these negotiations began. Both leaders have obviously placed great emphasis, personally, politically and publicly, on reaching an end to the impasse. As a result of their leadership, the Cypriot communities are moving closer to mutual agreement to resolve long-standing differences. -- Both leaders have also continued to project public signals of goodwill and unity that are essential to the success of the negotiations, such as through the recently announced confidence building measures (ambulance crossings, water conservation, cultural preservation, and criminal intelligence sharing). Agreement and commitment to make decisive progress on implementation of these and other measures will be required. -- We also take very much to heart your reminder that a resolution lies with the communities themselves. It is essential to provide the two leaders the negotiating room they need to find a solution that makes sense for Cypriots. At the same time, we must also recognize that there will be some difficult give and take in the next phase of negotiations, and the negotiations run the risk of getting bogged down in arguments about the past, instead of looking to the future. The leaders will need all of our support and encouragement to focus on what will best allow Cyprus to move forward, including by seriously considering what compromises may be necessary to bring the talks to a successful conclusion. -- The Cyprus conflict is one of the longest-standing questions that have seized this Council. We have tried many times to find our way toward a solution, only to have the process stall. We therefore understand the need to avoid establishing a rigid timeline and unrealistic expectations. But we must balance our caution about proceeding too quickly with a sense of urgency. We truly do have an unprecedented opportunity here, and we should not let it pass. If there are ways to increase the momentum during this next phase, then we should consider them, so that the two sides can fully exploit this opportunity. I would welcome any further thoughts Mr. Downer would want to provide about how the Council can help in keeping up the momentum. -- Mr. President, as President Obama recently stated, the two Cypriot leaders have an opportunity through their commitment to negotiations under the United Nations Good Offices Mission. The United States is willing to offer all the help sought by the parties as they work toward a just and lasting settlement that reunifies Cyprus into a bizonal and bicommunal federation. CLINTON