CONFIDENTIAL
ESSENTIAL FACTS
CYPRUS
1. Little progress in second round of the Secretary General's
proximity talks (15-26 October). Next round begins on 26 November. Secretary General has said he will not arrange a
high-level meeting (between Kyprianou and Denktash face to face)
without real progress and will report to the Security Council
letting blame lie where it falls. Prospects are bleak, but
since neither side wants to be blamed for failure, a high-level
meeting may yet come about.
2.
:
We have been active with all the parties (Prime Minister/
Kyprianou 24 September, Secretary of State/Halefoglu 27
September, High Commissioner in Nicosia/Kyprianou and Denktash
on 9 and 8 October respectively, Ambassador at Athens/Greek
Deputy Foreign Minister 11 October, Prime Minister's message
to Turks delivered 12 October). Secretary General grateful
and we have gained credit (privately) as his 'only real
supporters'.
Commonwealth Action Group
3.
Established at the New Delhi CHOGM. Members are
Australia, Guyana, India, Nigeria and Zambia. We had
reservations about the Group's value and it has been largely
ineffective. The Australians have kept us fully briefed
and share our reservations. Foreign Ministers of the Group
met the UN Secretary General in New York last December and came
to London in June where they met together and also with President
Kyprianou.
4.
Sir Geoffrey Howe told the Group in July that Commonwealth
support through the Commonwealth Action Group would strengthen
the Secretary General's hand. Since then we have not heard
of any further activity by the Group.
5.
The Turks view the Group with the utmost suspicion and,
with some justification, regard it as a Greek Cypriot stalking
horse. The Australians have told other members that the
Group has to establish its credibility with the Turkish Cypriots
if it is to remain viable.
CONFIDENTIAL