GENEVA: Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar called on the UN Security Council on Wednesday to recognize two independent states as a way out of the decades-old dispute between Turks and Cypriots on the divided Mediterranean island.
Tatar made the proposal in a document submitted to UN chief Antonio Guterres who is overseeing three days of informal talks in Geneva with the rival Cypriot leaders.
The two-page document entitled “Turkish Cypriot Proposal for a Sustainable Settlement” sets out key principles that would govern such an accord.
Among them is a call for the Security Council to adopt a resolution “in which the equal international status and sovereign equality of the two sides is secured.”
“Such a resolution will form the new basis for the establishment of a cooperative relationship between the two existing states,” the proposal says.
It outlines the measures that need to be taken once the resolution is adopted — which is an unlikely scenario — and how the negotiations should proceed.
“The negotiations will focus on the future relationship between the two independent states, property, security and border adjustment, as well as relations with the EU,” according to the proposal.
It adds that the negotiations would be supported by Turkey, Greece and Britain, as well as, where appropriate, the EU as observer.
“In the context of any agreement the two states will mutually recognize each other; the three guarantor states (Turkey, Greece and Britain) will support this,” the proposal says.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey occupied the northern third in response to a coup orchestrated by an Athens-backed junta seeking to annex the island to Greece.
The Turkish-occupied zone later declared independence, but remains heavily dependent on Ankara.
A UN-controlled buffer zone separates the breakaway state from areas controlled by EU member the Republic of Cyprus.
Negotiations for a solution have repeatedly failed, with the last round held in Switzerland stalling in 2017.
The three days of informal talks this week are aimed at determining “whether a common ground exists for the parties to negotiate a lasting solution to the Cyprus issue with a foreseeable horizon,” Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters on Tuesday.
The foreign ministers of Turkey, Greece and Britain have also been invited to the latest talks, set to wrap up on Thursday.
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Turkish Cypriot leader calls on UN to recognize two independent states
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Turkish Cypriot leader calls on UN to recognize two independent states
- Ersin Tatar made the proposal in a document submitted to UN chief Antonio Guterres who is overseeing three days of informal talks in Geneva with the rival Cypriot leaders
- Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey occupied the northern third in response to a coup orchestrated by an Athens-backed junta seeking to annex the island to Greece
China’s Xi urges ‘central role’ of UN in call with Brazil’s Lula
BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping called on countries to protect the “central role” of the United Nations in international affairs, urging his Brazilian counterpart on Friday to help safeguard international norms, state media reported.
The comments come after US President Donald Trump unveiled plans for his new “Board of Peace” at the World Economic Forum.
Although originally meant to oversee Gaza’s rebuilding, the board’s charter does not seem to limit its role to the Palestinian territory and has sparked concerns Trump wants to rival the United Nations.
While China and Brazil have both been invited to join Trump’s new grouping, neither has confirmed participation.
Xi told President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during their Friday morning phone call that in the current “tumultuous” international situation, China and Brazil “are constructive forces in maintaining world peace and stability,” according to a readout published by state broadcaster CCTV.
“They should stand firmly on the right side of history... and jointly uphold the central role of the United Nations and international fairness and justice,” Xi said.
European leaders have expressed doubts over Trump’s norm-busting proposal, with some viewing it as an attempt to potentially sideline or even replace the United Nations.
While in Davos, Switzerland, Trump said that once complete, the board “can do pretty much whatever we want,” while adding that “we’ll do it in conjunction with the United Nations.”
Beijing’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday that “no matter how the international situation changes, China firmly upholds the international system with the United Nations at its core.”
Brazil has also expressed skepticism about the Board of Peace, saying it could represent “a revocation” of the United Nations.
Lula’s special adviser Celso Amorim told Brazilian media that “we cannot consider a reform of the UN made by one country.”
During Trump’s global tariff onslaught last year, China and Brazil sought to present their countries as staunch defenders of the multilateral trading system.
Xi told Lula in August they could set an example of “self-reliance” for emerging powers.
China, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, engages with the international body even as it has objected to what it terms internal interference.
Advocacy groups like Human Rights Watch have accused China of seeking to undermine the United Nations by reducing contributions to the organization’s rights budgets, establishing an alternative international mediation body and blocking activists from UN events.
The comments come after US President Donald Trump unveiled plans for his new “Board of Peace” at the World Economic Forum.
Although originally meant to oversee Gaza’s rebuilding, the board’s charter does not seem to limit its role to the Palestinian territory and has sparked concerns Trump wants to rival the United Nations.
While China and Brazil have both been invited to join Trump’s new grouping, neither has confirmed participation.
Xi told President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during their Friday morning phone call that in the current “tumultuous” international situation, China and Brazil “are constructive forces in maintaining world peace and stability,” according to a readout published by state broadcaster CCTV.
“They should stand firmly on the right side of history... and jointly uphold the central role of the United Nations and international fairness and justice,” Xi said.
European leaders have expressed doubts over Trump’s norm-busting proposal, with some viewing it as an attempt to potentially sideline or even replace the United Nations.
While in Davos, Switzerland, Trump said that once complete, the board “can do pretty much whatever we want,” while adding that “we’ll do it in conjunction with the United Nations.”
Beijing’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday that “no matter how the international situation changes, China firmly upholds the international system with the United Nations at its core.”
Brazil has also expressed skepticism about the Board of Peace, saying it could represent “a revocation” of the United Nations.
Lula’s special adviser Celso Amorim told Brazilian media that “we cannot consider a reform of the UN made by one country.”
During Trump’s global tariff onslaught last year, China and Brazil sought to present their countries as staunch defenders of the multilateral trading system.
Xi told Lula in August they could set an example of “self-reliance” for emerging powers.
China, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, engages with the international body even as it has objected to what it terms internal interference.
Advocacy groups like Human Rights Watch have accused China of seeking to undermine the United Nations by reducing contributions to the organization’s rights budgets, establishing an alternative international mediation body and blocking activists from UN events.
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