‘This is the UN, and there’s no way out…’

Everyone knows what this process represents, but no one seems to be willing to voice it.

The U.N. secretary-general is pushing these two leaders towards a tunnel with no escape.

Both leaders will definitely voice their objections to the timetable and the negotiation method, but if they announce that they have agreed to enter the tunnel the moment they step out of Annan’s office, they will become part of a process of no return.

Just like in soccer matches.

Instead of "This is Sami Yen and there is no way out," we will hear, "This is the United Nations and there is no way out." In addition, the end score is known to everyone.

Negotiations have a definite timetable. Dates — when it will start and end — are outlined. Annan will assist. He will readjust some points in the plan that are important to both sides. He will fine-tune the agreement.

And then the document will put to a referendum. Its date is also known.

Additionally, two watchmen from the United States and the European Union will guard the entrance and the exit of the tunnel. In other words, there is no way out.
How and when will the final negotiations take place?

However, Annan will not be the only one asking questions. Turkish and Greek leaders will also ask some. They will try to learn the length of the tunnel and all about its scary curves.

In other words, they will try to find out if there really is no escape.

The most important point they will address is whether the final document prepared by Annan will really be open or not to negotiation.

Will Annan say: "Here is the final version of the plan. Take it or leave it," or will a final bargaining take place?

Sources at the United Nations were clear on this issue.

"The secretary-general will not ask for approval. He will discuss the final document with the leaders. If necessary, there will be a Camp David-like final negotiation. At that stage, the United States and the EU can participate in the process."

This is the roadmap.
What of the technical studies?

The most important issue that will be addressed at today’s meeting is whether technical studies dealing with the plan can be completed by the deadline. Technical studies are very important and take a long time. Actually, technical committees should have begun their work months ago; however, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) President Rauf Denktas prevented this from happening.

What we call technical detail is almost as important as the real document.

Everything, from the color of the flag to the establishment of federal courts, requires an intensive period of study. It is very hard to complete it within a few weeks. Sacrifices have to be made. "The devil is in the details" is a very appropriate saying.

The U.N. experts will try to help in the technical matters, but the difficulty remains.
Are we ready to apply the finishing touches?

Now we should ask ourselves a fundamental question.

Are we ready?

Are we ready to enter the tunnel and walk to its end? If we are not, we should try to withdraw from the scene right now. If we are saying "yes" now because we think we can backtrack at any time in the future when the proceedings are not to our liking, our losses will be much more significant.

Turkey, which said, "We will definitely be a step ahead of the Greek Cypriots," should play the game right.

From now on, no one should think about anything apart from the end solution.

The meeting that starts in New York today is a finals match. No one’s "hidden plans" can be accommodated. This is not the time to focus on details or to make grand statements like, "We will not hand over even one small pebble."

Now is the time to take the necessary precautions for the Turks living on Cyprus to ensure their existence. Negotiations should be based on realities, not on "possibilities" that might happen in 15 or 20 years’ time.

Our weakest link is Denktas’s attitude. It still is not apparent how he will behave.

I will try to address this issue in my article tomorrow.