At
UN, Turkish Cypriot Leader Denounces EU, Calls Downer and His Team
Fatigued, Looks
to January
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
November 19 - video
here -- Two months after denying
that UN mediator
Alexander Downer was “exhausted” by the negotiations between the
Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, TRNC
President Dervis Eroglu told Inner City Press on November 19 that
“not only Downer but everyone involved are showing signs of
fatigue, they are tired of continuing negotiating so long.”
Eroglu
was in New
York for meetings with Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias, Downer
and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. He told the Press he wouldn't
go into details of what had been said, but he denounced the European
Union which, he said, had taken all pressure off the Greek Cypriots
by according EU membership.
The
EU “cannot be
an honest broker,” he said, adding that the EU has “not keep its
promise of 2004 of lifting the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots,”
who now have little confidence in the EU.
Inner
City Press
asked if the TRNC, if there's no progress by the next meeting with
Ban in January 2011, might declare independence as Kosovo did. Eroglu
said this would be considered in January, not before while there are
talks. Things should be decided one way or the other, both he and his
spokesman Osman Ertug said.
TRNC's Eroglu & Ertug on Nov. 18, UDI not shown
The
November 19 interview took
place in the Office of the TRNC on the 9th floor of the Turkish
Mission to the UN's building. A florescent light bulb flickered;
there were maps of Northern Cyprus and New York City's five boroughs
on the walls.
Other
questions came to mind, everything between bank
regulation in the TRNC and what passports Eroglu and Ertug were
traveling on. (Turkish, appears to be the answer, despite the
response in the interview that “the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus is an independent country.”)
As
previously
reported by Inner City Press, the TRNC is given its own entry passes
to the UN, under the name “Turkish Cypriot Community.” This is
based on being part of a UN mediated negotiation process. But how
much longer will that last? Watch this site.
* * *
On
Cyprus,
Two
Views of Downer, “No Right to Be Exhausted,”
Disclosure Still Lacking, Lobbying Not Precluded
By
Matthew
Russell
Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
September
25 -- The President of Cyprus Dimitris
Christofias, and leader of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Dervis Eroglu, talked at cross purposes to the Press at the UN on
September 24 and 25.
Inner
City Press asked each about the
performance of UN Special Adviser Alexander Downer, a former
Australian diplomat who now moonlights with the business consultancy
Bespoke Approach.
Eroglu
had
been
quoted that the Greek Cypriots are “exhausting Downer's patience.”
When Inner City Press asked Christofias about the quote, he replied
that “Alexander Downer has no right to be exhausted. He's a Special
Adviser of the UN Secretary General for two years, maybe less than
two years... We have to be patient.” Video here,
from
Minute 18:15.
Inner
City
Press
waited until the next morning to ask Eroglu the same question. Eroglu
denied his quote in
the
Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris, by way of
Famagusta Gazette, adopted the more diplomatic position that Downer
must be and is neutral. This was said in Turkish, through an
interpreter. Eroglu added in English, to Inner City Press, that
Downer is “young.. enough.”
In
fact, Downer
was walking jauntily about the UN this week. Some wondered whether
his ubiquity was entirely related to his Cyprus portfolio for the UN,
or might be related to or assist in his private for profit work for
the clients of Bespoke Approach.
Inner
City
Press
has several times asked
Downer to disclose his outside business
interests and clients, so that possible conflicts of interest could
be assessed. Downer has refused, insisting that his work for
example
for Chinese firms wanting to do business in Australia has nothing to
do with Cyprus.
UN's Ban and the parties (former TRNC) & Downer,
dislosure not shown
But
consider this:
a part time Special Adviser or Special Representative like Alexander
Downer, or Tony Blair, or Matthew Nimitz, is given full access to the
UN. People including world leaders will take these people's call,
sometimes in part due to the UN connection. Can this be abused?
Should there be disclosure and then reform? Watch this site.
Footnote:
Eroglu's
stakeout
took place before 10 a.m. on Saturday in the UN's
Temporary North Lawn Building. While security outside on First Avenue
and 42nd Street was post-Obama being dismantled, inside the UN buzzed
with bilateral meetings.
Inner
City
Press spoke, for forthcoming
stories, with for example the Permanent Representatives of Uganda and
South Africa, in the midst of bilateral meetings, and
the Foreign Minister of Indonesia. The mood was collegial, with an
air of relief that the most tense part of the General Debate is over.
The Permanent Representative of Malaysia asked Inner City Press,
“Working on Saturday?” Yes. Watch this site.
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