385. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassies in Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus1
Washington, December 8, 1971,
0514Z.
221062. Subject: GOT Ambassadorʼs Call on Sisco: Cyprus.
- 1.
- GOT Ambassador Esenbel raised subject of Cyprus with Assistant Secretary Sisco by drawing attention to statement in SYGʼs report that latter would discuss his procedural proposal in more detail during SC meeting on UNFICYP renewal. Esenbel also mentioned critically SYGʼs invitation in report to SC to discuss substance of Cyprus problem.
- 2.
- Esenbel emphasized that GOT very much opposed to substantive intervention by SC into Cyprus problem and expressed GOTʼs desire for automatic UNFICYP renewal without substantive debate.
- 3.
- Assistant Secretary Sisco
replied that he had examined carefully text of SYGʼs initiative and
text of GOT reply.2 In light of imminent SC consideration of Cyprus he wished to
make following points:
- A.
- First and foremost, Sisco emphasized he agreed with Esenbel that it was in no oneʼs interest to have substantive, extended and heated SC debate. Frankly, this would benefit only Soviet Union.
- B.
- In our view, decisive element in containing SC situation would be acceptance by all parties of SYGʼs proposal on SYGʼs terms.
- C.
- Sisco went on to point out that we considered GOT response as positive although it was true that GOT was basically restating its position, particularly in relation to details of mandate. Sisco offered opinion that SYGʼs proposal was formulated in sufficiently positive terms to permit GOT to take strongest possible posture of accepting it without qualifications. Obviously there would be differences on modalities, but these could be discussed later once talks had begun.
- D.
- Sisco said that while US not party in this arrangement, we did believe that if GOT could endorse SYGʼs proposal in more unqualified way, this would give US opportunity to urge U Thant to make very strong representation to Makarios to accept SYGʼs initiative. In this situation USG was also prepared to weigh in with Makarios.
- 4.
- Ambassador Esenbel then asked Sisco how USG would like scenario to proceed over next several days. Sisco responded that most positive development would be unqualified acceptance of SYGʼs initiative by all three parties before SC meeting. Next best would be for GOT to make very clear it accepted fully SYGʼs proposal. Esenbel interjected that he considered Turkish acceptance to be positive statement. Sisco replied that there could be no question about this, as he had indicated earlier. However, Sisco noted that Turkish qualifications had been registered. Sisco then reviewed the language of the SYG initiative to point up how close it was to Turkish position and Turkish interest. SYG language emphasizes that talks principally between two communities with SYG representative providing good offices and GOT and GOC participating via constitutional experts.
- 5.
- Esenbel emphasized extent to which GOT had already compromised on UNSYGʼs proposal by recalling that when subject of UN participation in local talks had first been raised by Sisco, Esenbel had said to him this type of an approach would probably not be accepted by GOT. Now GOT had accepted and Esenbel saw no need for SC intervention which could only be unhelpful.
- 6.
- Sisco then summarized by stating that at this juncture US, like GOT, would like to see automatic renewal of UNFICYP and limit action of SC consideration to nonsubstantive discussion on Cyprus problem. However, best way to achieve this was to get local talks revived before SC met. If GOT could make contribution in this area then SYG and US could press Makarios to accept also.3
Johnson
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 633, Country Files—Middle East, Turkey, Vol. II 1 Jan 1970–31 Dec 1971. Secret; Exdis. Drafted by Ogden and Boyatt, cleared by Dillon and J.S. Brims (S/S–O); and approved by Sisco. Repeated to London, USNATO, and USUN.↩
- On October 4 the Greek Government announced that both it and the Government of Turkey had accepted the Secretary Generalʼs proposal for the appointment of a UN Special Representative to the intercommunal talks.↩
- At its December 13 meeting, the Security Council adopted Security Council Res. 305 by a vote of 14–0 with China abstaining. The resolution funded UNFICYP for a further 6 months with the expectation of a scaling down of its operations. Meanwhile, the Secretary General announced he would send representatives to Athens, Nicosia, and Ankara in an effort to reactivate the stalled intercommunal talks.↩