Cyprus: Status of U.N. Negotiations and Related Issues
Abstract
In his May 23, 2006, Report to the Security Council, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan stated that there have been "no tangible indicators of an evolution in the respective positions" of the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots that had produced the current impasse, although they had signaled some willingness to begin to reengage. Undersecretary for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari is to arrive on Cyprus on July 6 to assess the situation and the prospects for a resumption of the Secretary General's good offices mission. On June 12, Turkey provisionally completed the first and easiest of 35 negotiating chapters, on Science and Research, in the process of joining the European Union (EU). However, the EU conclusions that day referred implicitly to Turkey's refusal to open its ports to (Greek) Cyprus, an EU member, as required by Turkey's customs union with the EU. The EU asserted that Turkey's failure to implement its obligations fully will have an impact on the negotiating process and that, in view of this consideration, the EU will, if necessary, return to this chapter. It is anticipated that the unresolved Cyprus situation will be raised throughout Turkey's negotiating process. For its part, Turkey insists that it will not open its ports and airports to the Greek Cypriots before the EU fulfill promises to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot north. (For background, see European Union, below.) In an interview published on June 17, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyianni suggested that a new Plan for a United European Cyprus could result from a U.N. process based on preparations of the Secretary General, on the European (Union) reality, and on the will of the two communities. She linked preparations for this plan to talks in technical committees expected to be formed shortly.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 27, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA473618
Entities
People
- Carol Migdalovitz
Organizations
- Library of Congress