Moller urges two leaders to fulfill 8 July expectations

Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Cyprus Michael Moller called on here today President Papadopoulos and T/C Mechmet Ali Talat to proceed with the implementation of the July 8 Agreement.
“With almost a year having passed since the 8 July agreement, it is time to fulfill the expectations raised when the leaders of the two communities signed their first agreement since the late seventies”, Special Representative of the Secretary-General Michael Moller said at a medal ceremony for UN peacekeepers near UNFICYP Headquarters in Nicosia this evening.
Moller pointed out that “now more than ever, the island needs a renewal of confidence and mutual trust in a joint commitment to resolve the Cyprus problem once and for all”.
In his speech, Moller noted that the Secretary-General has urged the two leaders to build on progress achieved to date and “to move from discussions on procedures to real engagement on substance”.
“Also”, he added, “the Security Council has urged all parties to move to full-fledged negotiations, saying the status quo is unacceptable and that time is not on the side of a final Cyprus settlement”.
The SRSG said everyone agrees the Cyprus problem must have a Cypriot solution and that it is essential Cypriots feel their voices are heard in helping shape a solution.
“For this to happen”, Moller said, “Civil society must be allowed to freely engage and express itself within and between their communities”.
On July 8, 2006, Papadopoulos and Talat at the presence of the then UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrabim Gambari reached an agreement providing for the concurrent establishment of working groups to address substantive aspects of the Cyprus problem and technical committees to deal with the day-to-day problems that affect the people, as well as Confidence Building Measures.