United Nations Secretary General Presides Over Cyprus Talks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) January 24, 2012 -- According to Greek Cypriot sources close to the talks, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has not shown, during the working breakfast he had today with Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, the intentions of the international organization.

Ban was the only one who spoke during the breakfast. The UN SG welcomed the two leaders to Greentree and thanked them for accepting his invitation. He wished the meeting at Greentree to be a success “in order to be able to continue”, as he said.

After the working breakfast, the talks continued in a different building with introductory statements by the two sides.

The Turkish Cypriot leader, who spoke first, in his initial statement, referred to the end of the road for the process and the need to decide on an international conference, regardless of developments in the negotiations on the internal aspects of Cyprus issue.

President Christofias, according to the same sources, expressed during his initial statement, the good will of the Greek Cypriot side to see the negotiations continue on condition that some issues which have been agreed must be observed.

As regards the issue of an international conference, President Christofias clarified that the Greek Cypriot side would agree to it only when there will be agreement on the internal aspects of the problem.

After a short break following the initial statements, the process continued with joint meetings. A lunch with the participation of the Secretary General and the two delegations will follow.

So far, the UN has not asked the two sides to hand in outlines of their positions.

In the afternoon the discussion of several chapters will begin. First chapter in the discussion will probably be the chapter of governance.

The first meeting between the two leaders and the UNSG took place in November 2010, followed by two more meetings in Geneva on January 26 and July 7, 2011, during which both sides reaffirmed their commitment to finding a comprehensive solution as soon as possible, while in Geneva, on 26 January 2011, the sides agreed to intensify the negotiations.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third. Since 1974 Turkey occupies 37% of Cyprus` territory in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions, European Parliament decisions and resolutions, European Council decisions and other resolutions of international fora, which condemn the Turkish invasion and occupation.

Ankara has proclaimed a self-styled `state` in the occupied areas of Cyprus, which the UN have called legally invalid and asked the international community not to recognise or facilitate it. The illegal state is only recognised by Ankara.

The latest round of UN - led negotiations have been underway since 2008 between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus with an aim to reunify the island under a federal roof.CNA
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