CYPRUS: GUIDANCE FOR MAY 22 SECURITY COUNCIL

UNCLAS STATE 051396 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL UNSC KPKO PBTS GR TU CY UK SUBJECT: CYPRUS: GUIDANCE FOR MAY 22 SECURITY COUNCIL CONSULTATIONS ON UNFICYP ¶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 May 22, 2009. ¶2. (U) Begin points: The United States welcomes the report of the Secretary-General. We echo his full support for the current Cypriot-led negotiations under the auspices of the UN Secretary General,s Good Offices Mission, as well as his hope that the parties will make decisive progress in the near future. The United States stands ready with the international community to assist in whatever way we can, but continues to recognize that a comprehensive settlement is in the hands of the two communities. The sides have made progress and the Secretary-General,s report notes this by pointing out that there are now fewer significant areas of divergence than in previous attempts to reach a settlement. As the SYG,s report points out, however, the two sides will relatively soon enter into what we understand will be the most difficult phase of negotiations to date. We urge flexibility, compromise and the continued courage of the two communities to reach a settlement. As the Secretary-General,s report also suggests, the parties must move beyond positions of principle to ones of practicality where possible. The present negotiation environment is unique and promising, and we urge the communities to seize this window of opportunity to achieve a lasting settlement. To be successful, the parties need continued support and encouragement from the Council as they work toward a settlement. We support UN efforts to continue facilitating dialogue, encouraging convergence, focusing the parties on the future, and providing perspective and fresh and creative thought as appropriate. We encourage the communities to draw on the support of the UN,s Good Offices and of the international community as they continue their dialogue. Special Advisor Downer and the UN,s Good Offices Mission will continue to be critical to the success of the negotiation process. As the negotiations enter a critical stage, we should continue to support his efforts. We also encourage the UN Good Offices Mission,s intention to intensify its efforts to fully exploit the window of opportunity. As we have stated before, we support efforts to increase the momentum of the negotiations. Ultimately, the parties will also need the support of the Cypriot communities writ large. Thus, the Council should encourage continued public signals of goodwill and unity, including good faith implementation of confidence building measures. Implementation of the confidence building measures is important for achieving success in the political talks, but may also help to garner communal support when pursuing adoption of a final referendum. We agree with the Secretary-General that at this time, UNFICYP plays an important role on the island, both as a stabilizing factor on the ground and as a source of substantive and administrative support for the Good Offices Mission. UNFICYP personnel also continue to do excellent work. The United States supports an additional extension of its mandate for six months. The United States continues to fully support the ongoing settlement negotiations. 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, bicommunal federation. CLINTON