An International Relations Debacle: The UN Secretary-general's Mission of Good Offices in Cyprus 1999-2004 [Hardcover]

 

 

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ANYONE involved, or merely interested, in the Cyprus problem and the United Nations involvement in the efforts for its settlement must read the book by Claire Palley, the eminent British legal expert who served as Constitutional Consultant to the Cyprus government during the long-drawn out United Nations-sponsored reunification talks from 1980-2004.

This was strongly stressed by three professors, who are themselves deeply involved in following up and commenting on Cyprus developments, during a presentation of the book at Nicosia's Intercollege last night.

The title of the book, "An International Relations Debacle," deals in detail with the UN Secretary-General's Mission of Good Offices in Cyprus 1999-2004 and its culmination with the presentation of the controversial Annan Plan V.

The Dean of Intercollege, Professor Van Coufoudakis, said that "this book must be read in depth and seriously by anyone involved in the resolution of the Cyprus problem, or who will likely be involved in another round of negotiations. This well-documented book and the critical insights of the author, is an important testament that will shape any future attempt at a settlement.''

Professor Andreas Theophanous said that the Palley book "provides a detailed and precise account of the events that took place during the period 1999-2004 when the UN was trying to promote a solution. It is no coincidence that she describes the outcome as an "An International Relations Debacle."

Michael Attalides, a former ambassador and Director General of the Foreign Ministry, who was himself deeply involved in Cyprus, and who is now one of the Intercollege professors, said that "I cannot imagine that anyone will be able to write about the Cyprus problem again without referring to this book. And clearly this is the book to go to if you wish to learn about the differences between the good offices, mediation, and arbitration, and which side refused which at different stages of the negotiations.''

Experience

In his presentation Prof Van Coufoudakis said that the author brought to her task as a consultant to the Cyprus government her "incredible experience, not only through her participation on the UN Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, but also as consultant to the African National Council of Rhodesia, the Northern Ireland Convention and the International Commission of Jurists.''

Her book portrays events from the perspective of one who was close to the negotiations and her account of developments is fully documented with extensive footnotes, references to specific papers and documents exchanged by the parties during the course of 1999-2004.

Describing the book, he said that its 450 pages are divided into 18 chapters, 9 major appendices, and a very rich photographic collection with light-hearted captions that supplement this important book.

"We should thank the author for this photographic archive. It provides an important visual history of Cyprus since 1954.''

"I should also add that that appendices include extremely useful information such as (a) the now famous 11 points by Turkish Ambassador Ziyal that were virtually incorporated in Annan 5; (b) the response by the government of the Republic to the Secretary General's plan dated March 29, 2004; and (c) a very informative chart of villages, predominantly inhabited by settlers and their voting behaviour in the referendum.

"The most important of the appendices is a nearly 40-page comparative chart analysing section-by-section the five plans presented by the Secretary General and his staff.''

He said the book is very timely in view of recent attempts by the Cyprus Government and the United Nations to start new talks on the Cyprus problem.

"However, the significance of this book goes well beyond the borders of the Republic of Cyprus. It is a warning of the risks involved for all those who invoke the good offices of the Secretary-General in a conflict-resolution process. It is also a classic case study of how an international institution, like the United Nations, lacking leaders of the calibre of Dag Hammarskjold and U Thant, can violate its own principles and become an agent of influential permanent members of the Security Council, like the United States and the United Kingdom.

Disinformation

"In the particular case of Cyprus, Kofi Annan and his staff exceeded their jurisdiction; misled the international community in their reports and actions on Cyprus; became parties instead of facilitators in the Cyprus problem and undermined the credibility of the United Nations by attempting to impose a settlement tailor-made by the United States, the United Kingdom and Turkey.

"They did so by threat, disinformation, by violating cardinal rules of the UN Charter, Security Council resolutions on Cyprus and European law.

Prof. Coufoudakis said that the critique is not against the Cyprus policy of internationalisation pursued since the 1963 crisis.

Hypocrites pursuing political goals

COUFOUDAKIS said the book's criticism is directed at Kofi Annan and his staff, headed by Alvaro de Soto, who usurped their jurisdiction in order to impose a settlement.

De Soto worked closely with British and US officials, like David Hannay, Richard Holbrooke, Alfred Moses and Tom Weston.

"In this manner, the UN team abandoned the concept of good offices, became a participant in the Cypriot drama, and identified with one of the parties and its external sponsors.''

"In her analysis of the various Annan plans, the author shows how the UN attempted to trick the government of Cyprus into signing or endorsing a foundation agreement that would bind the parties to the results of the arbitration, or later, on March 25, 2004, to sign a commitment document to an unfinished settlement package.

The devil, in reality, was in the details but that was to become clear later.

As the United States proceeded with plans to invade Iraq, Turkey received a promise of billions of dollars and American support for Turkey's positions on the Annan plan in return for her participation in the war.

Daniel Fried of the Bush administration has admitted that much.

Ample proof

The US position on the various versions of the Annan plan are ample proof of Fried's position.

"Washington, for strategic reasons guided and supported Turkey's EU accession aspirations. By facilitating a solution of the Cyprus problem acceptable to Turkey, Ankara would be given "clean hands" from her occupation of a prospective member of the EU."

Prof Coufoudakis provided a brief chapter-by-chapter commentary on the book that also includes Washington's fully-documented heavy financial and political involvement in Cyprus under the guise of creating an environment conducive to peace.

He points out that Palley details the issue of the settlers and how that issue was one of the main reasons for the rejection of Annan 5 by the Greek Cypriots.

She quotes Mr Pfirter, a Swiss constitutional advisor to de Soto, admitting at a lecture at Bogacici University in Istanbul that the "plan did not foresee that anybody would be forced to leave..."

He said that Chapter 9 exposes the manipulative presentational tactics employed by de Soto and his staff who used rhetorical devices to obscure negative details from the Greek Cypriots.

Prof Coufoudakis says Palley "concludes with a simple truth, that at Burgenstock the chance for a settlement was lost because Turkey and her allies became too greedy and that the Secretariat, looking for a success that would improve its relations with the United States, decided to settle regardless of justice.

"For de Soto, it may have also been a personal issue as well. He wanted to break president Papadopoulos who stood up to him. Thus, the UN exploited the discretion given to the Secretary-General in New York. As a result, human rights, international law, and UN resolutions on Cyprus went out of the window. The priority of a political deal with Turkey had been fully met.''

Coufoudakis praises Palley's analysis of the "real effects" of the plan on Greek Cypriots, and her detailed discussion of the right of the displaced to return to their homes in safety and their right to property.

"It is important to note Palley's conclusion that the property provisions were based on a global property exchange with compensation the norm rather than restitution.''

He said that those condemning the Greek Cypriots for their "no" vote, "either did not understand the details of Annan 5, or were misled on the effects of the plan. Those who understood the effects of the plan and yet claimed that it balanced human rights "can only be adjudged hypocrites, pursuing preferred political goals while paying lip service to international law and human rights standards."

Coufoudakis said the book concludes with lessons from the experience of 1999-2004.

He said "rather than idealising the UN, we should recognise the UN and its Secretariat as a political organisation open to pressures of powerful members who can entangle the Secretariat into pursuing their goals. In view of the Secretariat's recent performance in Cyprus, questions are raised about its ability to be effective in dispute settlement, military occupation, and upholding the law. This is of major consequence to small states.''

He concluded his presentation by congratulating Claire Palley "for a most impressive volume. If we understand her analysis and her disturbing... Read more ›

Claire Palley does indeed warn her reader that her views have been coloured by her experience as constitutional adviser to the President of the Republic of Cyprus and asserts that she is not shy to reveal her personal opinion. However, the book, which is full of documentary evidence and unnecessrily lengthy footnotes, is totally one-sided. It follows negotiations on the Annan Plan solely from the GC point of view and generally propagates the views of the GC President Tassos Papadopoulos. Though references to UN reports are plentiful and detailed documentation useful, when it comes to her opinions of UN negotiators such as Mr. De Soto, she resorts to mere ranting. It is unfortunate that an insider could not provide a more balanced account indicating why the parties involved, Turkish Cypriots, Turkey, Greek Cypriots and EU and UN could not genuinely see eye to eye on so many issues and the thorny, meaty debate that must have taken place on points of principle. An interesting book nevertheless, exemplifying the attitude and narrow-mindedness of some GCs, as one can find on all sides I am sure. (Before you attack this review bear in mind I am in fact a Greek Cypriot and have studied Government and International Politics so I am well equipped to understand the arguments presented in the book).

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