Searching a settlement to the Cyprus problem: “This time it must be different”

The launch of the civic initiative for an updated Cyprus peace progress design (“C-Up”) led by Cyprus Peace and Dialogue Center (CPDC) was held at Ledra Palace Hotel yesterday on 28th May. The event was conducted as a workshop to “How do we get from here to negotiations?” with speeches, panel sessions and presentations.

The aim of the event was to form “a step-by-step approach to presenting proposals for a robust, inclusive, deliberative, democratic process design that can support the political leaders in reaching a sustainable settlement of the Cyprus problem.”

During her welcome remarks Dr. Meltem Onurkan Samani founder and general coordinator of CPDC, mentioned that this event builds on the Joint Declaration of CPDC and Determination for Peace (Apofasi Irinis) that was signed on 18th March 2024. She, then shared the key paragraph outlining the message “This time it must be different”.

The paragraph from the Joint Declaration that she quoted during her speech was:
“The negotiations should resume in a phased, meaningful, and results-oriented manner with a mechanism agreed by the parties for resolving possible impasses, leading to a comprehensive settlement agreement that would be submitted for the approval of both communities in separate, simultaneous referenda. As the continuation of the status-quo is unacceptable and unsustainable, it should not be among possible outcomes. The consequences of a new failure should be made clear to both sides. We also strongly embrace the Security Council position that the negotiations should ensure transparency and effective participation of women and youth as well as members of the civil society.”

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MARCOULLIS “CYPRUS PROBLEM IS THE WORST AND LONGEST DEADLOCK”
A keynote speech was given by Dr Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis (former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Transport, Communications and Works) who stated that the Cyprus problem is the “worst and longest deadlock”.

Marcoullis then outlined the factors for the failure of previous negotiations and followed with a list of suggestions for a successful “Yes” answer from both sides. She drew attention to current status-quo not being a solution nor should be an outcome to another negotiation.

Marcoullis addressed the concerns that might hinder another negotiation period and how to prepare for next time. “Caution that comes from the agony because of so many years of frustration.”

Fiona Mullen addressed the challenge of having multi-party negotiations to achieve effective, fair, and beneficial to all parties and brought attention to the expected new realities facing Cyprus regarding energy and political relationships with Turkey, EU, and UN while pressing on the importance of informing both sides of the public about the consequences of a negative outcome to another referendum.

A series of Panel sessions were held to answer the following questions:
1. Citizens assembly, elected assembly or constitutional assembly?
Presented by Kemal Baykalli with panellists; Dr Bulent Kanol and Liana Liu Ioannides.

2. How to ensure true inclusivity: pitfalls to avoid.
Presented by Dr Sophia Papastavrou with panellists; Dr Petros Aristodemou, Magda Zenon, and Ayse Biyikoglu Turkmen.

3. How to keep the political leaders engaged in a deliberative democracy process but also avoid political interference (observers/participants/rapporteurs)?
Presented by Dr Ipek Borman with panellists: Prof Charis Psaltis and Berk Tansel

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4. When ,how and how many referendums?
Presented by Prof James Ker-Lindsay with panellists: Neophytos Loizides, and Mine Yucel.

Some of the key takeaways from the event were; to address the mistakes in previous negotiations and to create actionable solution mechanisms prior to another negotiation period, finding neutral funds and international assemblies in order to gain feasible solutions to conflicting agendas, creating a solution with a full ownership and not counting on external beneficiaries for a solution proposal, the need for a linkage between the public and the leaders and transparency during negotiations, coming up with satisfactory solution proposals for all parties concerned, educating and informing the public correctly and effectively about the outcomes.

Voice Cyprus News 2024