United Nations Secretary General António Guterres has confirmed that the two Cypriot leaders have failed to progress enough to warrant 5+1 meetings – or even 3+1 – on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York next week.
No-one is surprised.
Just as he stated after his visit to Cyprus in July, the UN chief has made it clear that ‘the ball is in the leaders’ court’.
But the diagnosis is wrong. Because the playing field is not level.
The game can only begin when the Greek Cypriots choose to kick-off. Because only they have international recognition. A situation created by the UN when it inadvertently elevated the status of the Greek Cypriots soon after the conflict began in December 1963.
It’s a mistake which continues to be supported by the UN.
Nikos Christodoulides has spent six months warming up for the game. He’s done the pre-match press conferences, he’s stretched his hamstrings, loosened his joints and even waved at his family up in the stands. He’s made it clear that he’s absolutely ready to play.
But in reality, the spoilt child prefers to take his ball and go back home. He prefers to sit in the comfort of international recognition which the UN provides him, knowing that the price of his intransigence is zero.
In fact, in his selfish mind, it’s better than 0. He’s already 1-0 up before the game has begun. He has recognition. The opposition do not. Why would he risk changing anything?
“We cannot repeat the mistakes of the past.” cries Guterres and yet the UN is busy doing precisely that.
Guterres is doggedly repeating an error which was first made in Resolution 186, passed by the UN back in March 1964.
As long as one team is internationally recognised as a state and the other is regarded as a mere “community” that is subjected to international isolation and embargoes at the whim of the other player, the game cannot be completed. It will remain a stalemate. A bore draw.
Taskin Ismet is the chair of Turkish Cypriot human rights group Embargoed!, which campaigns for the immediate and unconditional ending of the international isolation of Turkish Cypriots and their North Cyprus homeland.
