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