**Negotiators Played Key Role in Cyprus Talks Post-Annan Plan, Former Chief Negotiator Asserts**
In a recent clarification regarding the Cyprus negotiations, Rasit Pertev, the former Turkish Cypriot chief negotiator from April 2005 to November 2007, emphasized the significant role that negotiators played following the collapse of the Annan Plan. His remarks come in response to a column published in the Sunday Mail, which suggested that the meetings held during that period did not yield substantial outcomes.
Pertev highlighted that the failure of the Annan Plan necessitated a complete overhaul of the negotiating framework, which had effectively disintegrated. During his tenure, the two community leaders, Mehmet Ali Talat and Tassos Papadopoulos, met only a handful of times—approximately two or three. This limited interaction meant that chief negotiators had to assume a more prominent role in the discussions, meeting regularly, often two or three times a week, to lay the groundwork for future decisions by the leaders.
Contrary to the assertion made in the column, Pertev argued that the extensive meetings among negotiators were not in vain. He stated that these discussions were critical in establishing the foundation for comprehensive negotiations aimed at resolving the longstanding Cyprus issue. The negotiators successfully developed a comprehensive package of confidence-building measures and made significant strides towards reopening the Ledra Street crossing, a vital point of connection between the two communities.
Pertev pointed out that much of the work conducted during this period was intentionally kept out of the public eye. Both sides recognized that serious negotiations required a level of discretion that would not be compatible with media scrutiny. As a result, many of the achievements during this time went unnoticed, leading other political actors to receive credit for initiatives that had been carefully prepared by the negotiating teams.
Despite the challenges posed by the infrequent meetings between the community leaders, Pertev underscored the progress made during his tenure. He credited the professionalism, patience, and mutual respect of both negotiating teams, as well as the support of Michael Møller, the then United Nations special representative. Møller's quiet diplomacy and persistent efforts contributed to creating an atmosphere conducive to genuine progress.
Pertev also clarified that the texts for launching full-fledged negotiations and implementing the confidence-building measures were fully negotiated and agreed upon by both sides. However, the implementation of these packages was postponed due to political considerations related to the Greek Cypriot presidential elections. It was deemed more strategic to wait for the election outcome rather than potentially provide Papadopoulos, who had been less cooperative in the peace process, with an advantage during his campaign.
In conclusion, Pertev's reflections serve to place the negotiations of 2005 to 2007 in a more accurate historical context. He asserts that the work done during that time laid the groundwork for subsequent negotiations, including those that took place in Crans-Montana in 2017. His insights aim to correct misconceptions about the effectiveness of the negotiators' efforts and highlight the importance of their contributions to the ongoing quest for a resolution to the Cyprus problem.