THE GOVERNMENT may soon be asked to consider a four or five-party meeting under the auspices of the Spanish EU Presidency to discuss the Cyprus problem following a suggestion by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Speaking to Greek Cypriot journalists in Istanbul last month, Erdogan said that Spain, currently heading the EU Presidency, could facilitate talks between the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities as well as the heads of Greece and Turkey. Britain, the third guarantor power, could also be present, he said. This would allow President Demetris Christofias to engage in direct dialogue with Turkey, though Erdogan set one precondition, that Christofias’ “counterpart”, Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat also be present.

Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou said yesterday that he had met with Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos last Friday in Spain but that no mention of such a proposal was made. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was also in Spain at the same time for an informal meeting of European ministers.

However, this does not rule out the possibility that Christofias has already been sounded out about the possible meet or soon will be. Moratinos arrives on the island today, accompanying Queen Sofia of Spain who is due to open an exhibition in Nicosia of renowned Spanish artist Joan Miró. He will meet both with Christofias and Kyprianou before leaving the island tomorrow.

Moratinos is in the unlikely position of being one of the first ever European diplomats who has both the respect and confidence of both Turkey and the Greek Cypriots. Spain and Turkey are co-founders of the UN’s Alliance of Civilisations, while Spain is considered a strong advocate of Turkey’s EU accession bid.

Moratinos spent over six years in Cyprus as the EU’s special representative for the Middle East where he established close relations with the Cypriot leadership, including the late Tassos Papadopoulos and incumbent president Christofias.

The experienced diplomat could play a discreet role of facilitator behind the scenes to get the Turks and Greek Cypriots speaking to each other in some kind of alternative track diplomacy. Spain’s good relations with both sides would put Moratinos in a better position than his predecessor in the EU Presidency, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, who seemed to ride roughshod over Greek Cypriot sensitivities, said one analyst.

Bildt’s game plan was basically to promote the carrot of Turkish EU accession on the one hand, while on the other, using the stick against the Greek Cypriots, using a combination of pressure and veiled threats of an UNFICYP withdrawal, he added.

According to Hugh Pope of the International Crisis Group, the biggest obstacle to a solution is the complete lack of dialogue, trust and understanding between Turkey and the Greek Cypriots.

“There is no established track two between Turkey and the Greek Cypriots,” said Pope after Erdogan met with Greek Cypriot journalists last month.

“If you blindfolded the two sides and found out what’s really going on, they are not that far apart. It’s a matter of trust. Can a Greek Cypriot trust in a normalised future with Turkey, that troops will go? The only way they can really believe that in their hearts is if they meet Erdogan and Davutoglu face to face,” he said.

“The key thing stopping negotiations leaving first base is Christofias wondering whether Turkey is there for him, whether he’s really negotiating a solution or an interim agreement. He will only ever know if he meets them.”

Pope argued that the offer to bring an EU country into the four or five-party talks is Turkey’s way of trying to make it easier for Christofias to agree to meet.

Christofias has previously rejected the idea of meeting with Erdogan with Talat present, citing fears of upgrading the status of the breakaway regime in the north.