Press Briefing by Daniel Fried,
Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs

J.W. Fulbright Center

Nicosia, Cyprus

Monday, July 7 2008

Assistant Secretary Fried: Good afternoon. Thanks for coming out. I’m just finishing a day-and-a-half of meetings here. It is a pleasure to be in the Republic of Cyprus. The purpose of my trip is to demonstrate the support of the United States for the efforts of the two leaders, President Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat, to make progress under UN auspices to reach the point where comprehensive negotiations to solve the Cyprus problem can begin. The United States wants to see a reunified island. We support a bizonal, bicommunal federation. One nation, one citizenship, an undivided country. And we are impressed by the recent work of the two leaders, President Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat, as expressed in the March 21st, May 23rd and July 1st statements. I met today with President Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat, also with the Special Representative of the Secretary General, Mr. Zerihoun. I met last night at the Ambassador's residence with a number of senior leaders, negotiators and political figures from both communities. My meetings were productive and useful. I was able to listen, to hear the concerns of both sides, but also to hear the commitment of both sides to make progress. We hope that the leaders of this island will be able to make progress and open full-fledged negotiations soon. But there is no American plan. We want to help, but this is not an issue that can be imposed, on which a settlement can be imposed from the outside. We look to the leaders to show the way forward, and we look forward to supporting them. There has been progress, not just good statements, but the opening of the Ledra Street crossing, which I saw yesterday, is a tangible expression of the leaders' verbal commitment and written commitment to progress. And it's a sign that progress is possible. So we applaud the efforts of the leaders of Cyprus to reunite this island. We pledge ourselves to help as we may, working with the UN. And I will add that the time has not been so favorable in many years for a settlement. Two leaders are committed to a settlement. The people of Cyprus, judging by the enormous number of trouble-free crossings every day, are ready for a settlement. Time will not improve things, so I hope things can move forward and we can see negotiations and progress towards a settlement as soon as possible. I look forward to answering your questions and again I appreciate the hospitality of my hosts during my time here and I look forward to coming back again. So with that I am open to your questions.

Question: Ambassador Fried, with regard to the time-frame for fully-fledged negotiations between the two sides, when would you believe it would be realistic to expect fully-fledged negotiations? You did say very soon, but based on your contacts between the two sides what's your assessment?

Assistant Secretary Fried: Well, we look forward obviously to the July 25th meeting and to its results. But this is not an American timetable. This process is being made on the island. The step forward with the Ledra Street crossing was made here in Cyprus. The solution needs to be made in Cyprus, drawing of course on the impressive and important body of work of the past decades, and we look forward to the leaders working together. But this is their timetable, not ours, and again, the next time-frame that we know about is July 25th. And then we'll see.

Question: Sir, you said that the United States stands ready to help, and I was wondering, what is the United States prepared to do in order to avoid any possible effects on the process, on the effort by the ongoing political crisis within Turkey and the conflict between the various centers of power?

Assistant Secretary Fried: Well, I believe that the Turkish government supports a solution. The United States is in regular touch with our Turkish friends about a number of issues, including Cyprus. I have spoken to Turkish authorities, Turkish leaders, and senior diplomats about this, and I intend to do so again. I can't answer the specific question about political developments in Turkey. We hope that the Turks will settle their political differences in a way consistent with their secular constitution, their status as a democracy, and we hope they resolve these things in a way that strengthens their democracy. But I am confident that, for example, Mehmet Ali Talat is committed to a solution, that he has, certainly has, the will to proceed and that the basis to make progress is there. So the problems are hard, these issues are not easy, they are tough, but I think the timing, the time is right to make progress.

Question: But you don't think that the developments in Turkey can anyway affect the process and the efforts?

Assistant Secretary Fried: Well, I hope not. And I think…I hope not and I think that Turkey does want a solution. It's certainly in America's interest. We think it's in the interests of all of the people of this region to have this problem resolved and we look forward to the day when the division of Cyprus will be gone and erased and a part of memory and history, much as the division of Germany is now a part of memory and history. We look forward to that day.

Question: Sir, Cyprus has been a member of the European Union for years now. Would you say that any kind of solution has to be compatible with the acquis communautaire and based on the principles and values on which the European Union is founded?

Assistant Secretary Fried: Well, we welcome the fact that Cyprus has joined Europe and the European Union. Certainly we look forward to supporting the solution that the two leaders can come up with. The European Union will obviously have to, well, may have the ability to support this process through technical and legal advice. And I think that’s a good thing. But I shouldn’t prejudge, and we shouldn’t prejudge or try to box in the leaders; I mean we Americans shouldn’t do this. It’s up to them to find a way forward. There is a body of work out there that they can draw on, and I hope they do. But it’s not for any American to say that it must be this way or it must be that way. These are complicated, difficult issues and we need to support the leaders as they find a way forward.

Question: I am sorry to bring this up again, but last year there was a bit of a hoo ha about something you allegedly said about the Annan Plan and how you gave Cyprus to Turkey in the form of the Annan Plan and I would like to hear from you exactly what…

Assistant Secretary Fried: Good lord! Is that… That is the silliest press story I have encountered in some years. I’m surprised that anybody would have taken that seriously. But since you ask… no, I never said it. No I never even thought it. That’s a ridiculous thought. And there’s no truth to that, happily.

Question: Thank you.

Assistant Secretary Fried: You’re welcome.

Question: A question about the appointment of Mr. Alexander Downer as possibly the new Special Envoy, UN Special Envoy for Cyprus. What do you know about that? Are we any closer to an appointment by the United Nations?

Assistant Secretary Fried: Well you should ask the United Nations.

Question: Well I am asking you as a representative of the P5.

Assistant Secretary Fried: Well of course you are. But this is a decision that is properly the UN’s to make. Obviously there have been a number of stories that the UN is prepared to take this step. We think that at the right time this makes a great deal of sense. And we will look at ways in which we can support this process. And we intend to do so. I think the UN is well-engaged in this issue. Lynn Pascoe has been here. He is an extraordinarily able, capable, diligent and creative diplomat. So I think that the stars are aligning for a progress, and I hope that we can make it.

Question: Will Washington appoint a special envoy?

Assistant Secretary Fried: Very fair question. And we’re actively looking at that ourselves. We want to do so when it makes sense. This is something we will do in consultation with both sides in Cyprus. But that’s a very reasonable question. And in fact, we are thinking about this hard.

Question: When exactly would it make sense?

Assistant Secretary Fried: Well let’s see how the meeting on July 25th goes. We don’t want to appoint a special envoy to sit or to fly out for no purpose. You want to appoint a special envoy when there is work to be done. And that would be… I think and I hope that we are approaching that point. So we’re active, as I said, we are actively considering this. This is a sound, it’s an obvious question to ask and a good one.

Question: Are you expecting a date to be set for direct talks on July 25th?

Assistant Secretary Fried: It’s not for the Americans to stand and sort of express what we expect. I hope the sides can make progress. They have to be the judges of this. They’re going to make progress and work through these issues. We wish them well. And I am impressed by the progress made so far. So I hope for movement and it’s up to them.

Question: After your contacts here in Nicosia, what would your recommendations be to the American administration?

Assistant Secretary Fried: Well I will see Secretary Rice tomorrow. She’s quite interested in Cyprus. She asked me to come here. She asked me to give her an assessment of what’s possible. And my bottom line assessment will be we need to get ready because there is a real chance that… there’s a chance, not a certainty, but a chance that we will be moving forward again in a way we haven’t in some time. So always caution, always careful, but this time there is, we have, the world has a real shot at movement toward a solution, and I certainly hope so.

Question: Sir, you said that a body of work exists already and you wish that they use this body of work. Could you please tell us more about this body of work and what you mean?

Assistant Secretary Fried: Well, there has been a lot of work done over the years. It is not for any American to say what should and should not be part of the settlement. That’s not our role. Work has been done. Diligent, serious people have addressed a lot of the issues that need to be addressed and that work is available for the leaders and the negotiators to draw upon, and we will support them as they do. But there isn’t an American plan, and this is not something that can be imposed. The outside world can help, can facilitate, can act in various ways, but imposition or dictating is not one of them.

Question: Maybe you can elaborate. What are some of the biggest problems you have identified that could be stumbling blocks?

Assistant Secretary Fried: Oh, I am the least knowledgeable person in this room about the issues. I heard from the leaders, and it’s not really in my place to talk about the specifics. But that’s a fair question. I’m just not going to get into the specific issues and pretend that I am a negotiator. But it is clear that both leaders are interested in moving forward. It is also clear that these are SERIOUS issues they have to grapple with. You all know what they are. They are not going to get better over time. It strikes me that now is… given the fact there are two pro-settlement leaders… in power. Given the fact that they have met and produced a series of significant statements. Given that they have achieved one concrete result on the ground, which is the Ledra crossing, it seems to me this is a good sign if we are all patient and realistic about the intrinsic difficulties and willing to help.

Well alright then. Thank you very much for your time.