UN’s Ban Ki-moon disappointed in Cyprus lack of progress

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki – moon urged the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot side to engage in dialogue with a view to fully implement the July 8 agreement reached in 2006.

In a meeting Tuesday in New York with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, Ban Ki – moon urged him to seize the window of dialogue with a sense of flexibility as well as to fully cooperate with the Greek Cypriot side regarding the Cypriot government’s recent proposals for the opening of new crossing points across the divide.

But the UNSG said that unless there are firm commitments from both sides, it would be very difficult for him at this stage to take certain initiatives on the Cyprus issue to exit the deadlock.

“My meetings with both Mr. Papadopoulos and Mr. Talat today and a few days ago, were very useful for me and for my staff to understand the current situation, as well as to tell them the United Nations’ position. In my meeting with Mr. Talat I have first of all urged him and also I conveyed the gist of my meeting with Mr. Papadopolous the same message that, as leaders they should engage in dialogue, as they have signed the July 8th agreement, to fully implement that agreement”, he said.

Ban Ki – moon expressed disappointment over the lack of progress regarding the implementation of the July 8 Agreement, which aims at preparing the ground for substantive talks between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus.

“While I was encouraged by the leaders’ recent meeting in early September, I was again disappointed by the lack of progress”, the UNSG noted.

He added that he urged Talat “to continue and to seize the window of opportunity, the window of dialogue with a sense of flexibility and a proactive manner. I also urged him to take necessary measures to build trust, as an example of a confidence-building measure, I again urged him to cooperate fully in opening the Ledra crossings”.

Asked whether he will appeal to the nations of the world to lift up the ‘restrictions’ on the Turkish Cypriots and if he is going to take up any initiative to start the negotiations, Ban Ki Moon indicated that “negotiation has been deadlocked” and added that he is “very seriously considering what kind of initiative” he should take.

“My lessons recently I learned is that unless there are firm commitments from both sides, it is very difficult for me at this time to take certain initiatives. But we will continue to discuss this matter” he continued.

In statements after the meeting, the Turkish Cypriot leader spoke about the urgency to reach a Cyprus solution “because time is running out and the division is becoming more and more permanent”.

Talat said he asked the UN Secretary General’s involvement for an initiative that would allow full-fledged negotiations aiming at a solution until the end of 2008, adding that he fully supports the implementation of the July Agreement.

Referring to the confidence building measures he submitted to the UN, Talat said it includes “some military measures to be taken to build confidence between the two sides about maneuvers, about de-confrontation and similar issues and also opening the crossing points”.