Menelau: Erhürman’s Four-Point Methodology Is a “Pre-Marital Divorce Protocol”

He maintained that what is needed is the full confirmation of all existing convergences. Menelau also said that the recently approved UNFICYP report reaffirmed the agreed basis for a settlement of the Cyprus problem and stressed that it should be clearly understood by everyone that there is no alternative solution framework.

According to Fileleftheros and other newspapers, Menelau was speaking at the “Working Days” meeting of the European Left Group held in Limassol. He said that with the approval of the report extending the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), the basis for resolving the Cyprus issue had once again been reiterated.

Menelau claimed that it must be clearly understood by all that there is no alternative solution to the Cyprus problem. He further asserted that following the election of a new Turkish Cypriot leader, hopes had risen, and as a result of initiatives by the Greek Cypriot side, two meetings were held under the auspices of the United Nations on 20 November and 11 December.

Referring to the meeting of 11 December, Menelau interpreted the reference to political equality directly linked to a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation solution as a sign that the Turkish Cypriot side was retreating from its two-state solution thesis. He argued that although the Turkish Cypriot side did not confirm the “solution basis,” confirming “political equality” nevertheless constituted a step in the right direction.

Menelau further claimed that the reasons why the Turkish Cypriot side does not confirm the solution basis should still be sought in Turkey, which continues to support a two-state solution.

Stating that the proposals of the Turkish Cypriot side amount, in their view, to a “pre-marital divorce protocol,” Menelau argued: “What we need is the full confirmation of all convergences.”

In his remarks, Menelau also referred to the five proposals put forward by the Greek Cypriot side and reiterated that the Greek Cypriot side would continue to work toward a settlement.