Blue Beret August

Veterans salute the fallen on International Day of Peace Downer cautiously optimistic THE BLUE BERET Editorial Published monthly by the: Autumn is a time of returns: to school, to work, to at start of substantive talks Public Information Office the business of government. So it is with the re- “Let me, though, say this: there United Nations Force in Cyprus launched negotiation process in Cyprus. The leaders is no doubt that this is a very difficult HQ UNFICYP process. After all, there hasn’t been PO Box 21642 of the two communities held the first round of fully- fledged talks on 3 September and discussed the a successful conclusion to the 1590 Nicosia Cyprus problem for many years, as Cyprus question of governance and power-sharing in a future everybody knows. So therefore it’s united Cyprus. They met two more times in Sep- Tel: 2261-4550/4416/4408 not going to be a simple and easy tember to continue those discussions. As Special Fax: 2261-4461 process. There will be ups and Adviser to the Secretary-General on Cyprus Alexander E-mail: [email protected] there’ll be downs, there will be good Downer is quoted as saying in these pages, the United [email protected] days and there’ll be bad days, there Nations remains cautiously optimistic on the prospects Website:www.unficyp.org will be good headlines and there’ll be for the peace process. bad headlines, of course. Editorial Team While much of UNFICYP has been mobilized to “Inevitably these processes are José Diaz support the peace process, the mission is still difficult,” he said but added that he Miriam Taylor conducting its day-to-day work. Indeed, the two are was impressed with the deter- Netha Kreouzos closely related. mination on both sides to achieve a SSgt. Andrej Milovčík (Photographer) Part of UNFICYP’s mandate is to help create the successful conclusion to these nego- Capt. Tomas Pavlik conditions that make it possible for negotiations to tiations. take place. And one very important part of that work Unit Press Officers involves helping other UN and international efforts to Sector 1 Maj. Julian Gonzalez bring Cypriots together or care for the large part of “There is a political Sector 2 Capt. Phil Lawrence the island that has been placed under UNFICYP’s will, which is Sector 4 1/Lt. Miroslav Šelep custodianship. In this issue of the Blue Beret, you will read about two initiatives – on road safety and MFR Lt. Jonathan Frankling Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali impressive, and that demining – that fall squarely into that category. UNPOL Garda John Kennedy Talat exchange gifts before getting down to business on 18 September 2008 political will gives me As UN Day approaches on 24 October, we believe UN Flt 1/Lt. José Velasquez eptember saw the talks At his first major press confer- it is important to remember the variety of the work of FMPU Maj. Robert Schütz move into full swing after ence on the island on 12 September, cause for cautious UNFICYP, which mirrors in a small way the multi- the brief lull in political Downer said that, “From both my faceted nature of its parent Organisation. The United optimism.” The Blue Beret is UNFICYP’s in-house activity on the island during discussions with all the political journal. Views expressed are of the Nations family is a diverse and extensive one. High- S August. Special Adviser to the Sec- parties here, of course in particular authors concerned, and do not neces- level negotiations and political discussions in the sarily conform with official policy. retary-General Alexander Downer with the leaders in Cyprus, but also “There is a political will, which is General Assembly or the Security Council often garner arrived on the island on 1 Septem- from my discussions in both Athens impressive, and that political will Articles of general interest (plus photos all the attention, but UN workers around the world Serving UNFICYP’s civilian, military and police personnel ber for the formal opening of direct and Ankara, I am encouraged by gives me cause for cautious opti- with captions) are invited from all quietly go about a daily routine that in many places negotiations on 3 September. what I have heard.” mism,” he said. members of the Force. can mean the difference between life and death. Downer took the opportunity in Referring to the first meeting on Referring to the negotiations pro- Copyright of all material is vested in Whether in the areas of humanitarian relief, human the two days before the talks began the subject of governance and power cess, Downer stressed that, “it’s not UN publications, but may be repro- rights, peacekeeping or peacemaking, these men and to meet with the leaders of all of the sharing, Downer said, “I think it has going to be the UN plan or the UN duced with the Editor’s permission. women are working to make that difference. major political parties on both sides gone well. The atmosphere is good. scheme. Ultimately this is going to of the island to ask them about their The atmosphere of these talks is be a negotiation, if it is to succeed, views and hear what they had to friendly, and the negotiations are which must be embraced by the say. productive. people of Cyprus.” Contents After the formal launch of the Editorial . .2 talks, he travelled to Athens where Downer cautionsly optimistic at start of substantive talks 3/5 he met with the Greek Prime Zerihoun – transparency the best policy . .6/7 Minister Kostas Karamanlis and the Leaders join hands at bicommunal concert . .8 Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyianni International day of peace . .9 before travelling to Ankara where he Rewarding service . .10 met with President Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and the Respect for speed . .11 Foreign Minister Ali Babacan. He Mine clearance – returning the land for the communities .12 returned to Cyprus to be here for the Delivering as one on HIV prevention . .13 start of substantive talks on 11 A small step against global warming / New trucks for old .14 September that began with the issue Fire kills – but you can prevent it . .15 of governance and power sharing. Visitors / Hungarian national day . .16 Following an almost four-hour New faces . .17-19 meeting on 11 September, the two leaders did not make any state- ments. SASG Downer, in a brief Front Cover: Veterans salute the fallen statement, told the media that the on International Day of Peace leaders began negotiations on the subject of governance and power Back Cover: Downer visits patrol base 126 Special Adviser to the Secretary-General Alexander Downer together with Special sharing and that the talks have been Representative of the Secretary-General Tayé-Brook Zerihoun at the formal “productive and fruitful”. opening of direct negotiations on 3 September 2 August/September 2008 – The Blue Beret August/September 2008 – The Blue Beret 3 Local and international media turn out in full force to cover the meeting of the two leaders on 11 September The UN’s role, Downer said, “is to Downer did, however, concede be as helpful as we possibly can. As that the process is taking a lot more you know, we can’t force anything time than originally anticipated. “Time and “The UN role circumstances change. is to be as The circumstances of helpful as we possibly can.” today are not the same as the circumstances of ..... 34 years ago.” on anybody and if the UN is helpful, then its role will be valuable. If the UN is not seen to be helpful, then the Special Representative of the process is not going to be advanced. Secretary-General Tayé-Brook Zeri- The two leaders take a break during the 11 September meeting houn hosted the second meeting on “I think the important thing to re- 18 September, which continued member is that what has happened nego tiations on the issue of govern- in the past hasn’t succeeded and ance and power sharing. A brief what I am determined about is that statement issued after the meeting this time it will succeed.” stated that the leaders have agreed Reminded that there had been 16 to resume negotiations on these SASG Downer addresses the media after the 11 September meeting at the Good UN envoys prior to him, Downer questions on 8 October 2008. Offices premises in the UNPA on 11 September 2008 said: “Let me say that just because a process has failed in the past, doesn’t mean you don’t try to make “... Today you it succeed in the present and the future.” Time and circumstances have two leaders change, he said, and the circumstances of today are not the same as who want to the circumstances of four years ago succeed. They are or 34 years ago. So I think the circumstances of today are that you quite determined have two leaders who want to succeed. They are quite determined to succeed and to succeed and they are quite aware they are quite of the tough issues and the problems. I wouldn’t have taken on this aware of the job if I thought it was a doomed job. tough issues and I looked at it very carefully before I accepted this job, and I thought the problems.” there is chance of the process being The two leaders bid farewell outside the SRSG’s residence in the UNPA after the successful. And I remain of that SRSG Zerihoun greets the two leaders on their arrival for the 11 September formal launch of talks on 3 September view.” meeting outside the Good Offices premises in the UNPA 4 August/September 2008 – The Blue Beret August/September 2008 – The Blue Beret 5 ZZeerriihhoouunn –– TTrraannssppaarreennccyy tthhee bbeesstt rreecciippee Interview with the UNFICYP Chief of Mission ayé-Brook Zerihoun, Special Representative of “Also, the parties to the conflict have been respon- The SRSG highlights the role of all UNFICYP per- the Secretary-General, has been described as sible; they have kept the peace, and infractions that we sonnel in the peace efforts, pointing out that the three an experienced, level-headed, international civil have compared to Sudan are minor.” However, he pillars of this mission, whether it is civil affairs, the Tservant; well liked and highly regarded by his notes the political problems here are no less compli- police or the military, all work towards maintaining the colleagues and officials of countries with whom he has cated.

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