Stefanu: There Is Momentum In The Cyprus Issue, But A Clear Road Map Is Essential

Speaking in an interview published in Haravgi newspaper, Stefanu said the recent developments around the Cyprus issue had generated a sense of movement that could open new prospects, provided it was channelled in the right direction. He underlined, however, that this momentum needed to be accompanied by a clear strategy anchored in agreed convergences and the framework outlined by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Stefanu said it was a fact that the election of Tufan Erhürman as the new leader of the Turkish Cypriot community had contributed to an increase in the recent momentum observed on the Cyprus issue. He added that the UN Secretary-General had become directly involved in these developments and, for this reason, had dispatched his Personal Envoy, María Angela Holguín, to the Nicosia–Athens–Ankara triangle.

He also noted that the UN Secretary-General had expressed a position in favour of convening a new informal expanded meeting, this time aimed at addressing the substance of the Cyprus problem, with the goal of restarting negotiations.

In this context, Stefanu said the Greek Cypriot side needed to prepare accordingly and be clear about how it intended to achieve the objective of resuming negotiations from the point at which they were left in 2017. He argued that the Greek Cypriot side must state unequivocally that it agrees to preserve the convergences reached so far and to assess the Guterres framework, and that a concrete road map was required to achieve this.

Referring to statements by Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides in favour of resuming talks from where they were left off, Stefanu reiterated that the next step must be the formulation of a clear road map. He added that he was concerned by what he described as contradictory statements from the government regarding the content of the convergences, what they entail, the Guterres framework and the issues it covers, as well as a range of other related matters.

Asked about the greatest danger if the deadlock in the Cyprus issue continues, Stefanu said the most serious risk was the entrenchment of division and, alongside it, what he described as the permanent consolidation of Turkey’s allegedly illegal presence on the island.

Participation In Regional Security Planning

Asked to comment on the Greek Cypriot side’s participation in regional security planning with countries such as Israel, Stefanu said AKEL could not make an assessment due to a lack of information. He noted that they had requested briefings from the government but had learned very little.

Stefanu added that, as in the period of the previous DISY government and now repeated by the current administration, there had been an indirect message allowed to circulate in society suggesting that cooperation with Israel could serve as a shield to protect the Greek Cypriot side against Turkey. He dismissed this notion as an illusion, saying there was no such reality.

He concluded by stating that Israel had no interest in defending the Greek Cypriot side and would never be willing to sacrifice even a single soldier for that purpose.