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UN: Two sides have made progress but more work needed
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The Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides have made progress since a meeting at the United Nations in New York last November but more work must be done to reach further convergences on the outstanding core issues, the UN Secretary-General said today.
The two sides have also agreed to intensify the negotiations through a series of additional meetings in the coming weeks, Ban Ki-Moon said, after a meeting with Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart Dervis Eroglu in Geneva.
“Based on discussions today, it is clear that the two leaders worked to move closer together through a range of bridging proposals, notably in the chapters of Economy, EU matters, and Governance and Power-Sharing. Nonetheless, more work must be done to reach further convergences on the outstanding core issues,” Ban said.
The UNSG said a number of elements have been identified that are designed to maintain momentum and to address more directly the details of a workable, mutually beneficial solution.
“The meeting’s spirited and substantive discussions contributed to clearing the air on several key issues,” Ban said.
Christofias and Eroglu discussed outstanding key issues in a more interrelated fashion, “since a settlement proposal will need to consist of an integrated package across chapters,” the UN boss said.
Ban added that he encouraged the two sides to talk to experts on the technical aspects of the property issue that the UN can make available.
Ban said the two sides agreed to intensify the negotiations and he has made himself available again soon to continue to take stock of progress and encourage the parties in further narrowing the differences.
“As recent surveys have shown, both communities in Cyprus want more than talks: they want a solution. The leaders have heard that message and they are acting. I welcome the steps that the leaders have taken today which give a clear indication of their commitment to reunifying Cyprus as soon as possible,” Ban said.
At the end of February, Ban will be filing a report to the UN Security Council on the state of the talks.
“I will closely follow the efforts of the leaders in the coming weeks as they reach further convergences across all chapters,” the UNSG said. “I am certain that if the constructive spirit that I witnessed today continues, I will have a positive report to submit.”
Ban did not take any questions citing the sensitivity of the process and the two sides have cancelled separate news conferences reportedly for the same reason.
