UN chief discusses Cyprus issue with Turkish President

by Apostolis Zoupanioti

New York, (CNA) —- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Turkish President Abdullah Gul have met in New York and discussed the Cyprus issue, Iraq, as well as relations between Turkey and the UN, according to a press release issued by the office of the UNSG’s spokesperson.

Commenting on the meeting, a UN chief’s spokesperson has told CNA that the dinner offered by the Turkish President in Ban Ki – moon’s honor can be described as a “private one”.

Gul told Turkish journalists that he discussed with UNSG the Cyprus issue, Iran, Iraq as well as Turkey’s application to become a non permanent member of the UN Security Council for the period 2009-2010.

Referring to Cyprus, Gul said he encouraged the UNSG to start a new initiative after February’s presidential elections in Cyprus.

He added that he reassured the UN chief of the Turkey’s willingness to “continue its positive stance” regarding a Cyprus settlement.

The Turkish President reiterated to Ban Ki – moon the need for the international community to end what he described as “embargo” on the Turkish Cypriots.

Turkish sources have said that Gul thanked the UN chief for the references he included in his December report regarding the lifting of the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.
The same source said that Ban Ki – moon informed the Turkish President about the difficulties which emerged within the Security Council relating to attempts to adopt his report as well as his predecessor’s (Kofi Annan’s ) report of May 2004.

Gul’s program included yesterday a meeting with former US Foreign Minister Henry Kissinger.

On December 14th, 2007, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution extending UNFICYP’s (UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus) mandate for a further period ending 15 June 2008. Ban Ki-moon’s references on the need to end the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots were not included in the resolution.

The Turkish side maintains that “an international embargo” is imposed on the Turkish Cypriots, since the 1974 invasion of Cyprus by the Turkish military, which halts the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community.

The government of Cyprus points out that the “embargo” is the direct outcome of the continuing occupation of the island’s northern part and the hold of Turkey on the Turkish Cypriots. The government has in the past few years announced and applied measures to help the economic development of the Turkish Cypriots, whose per capita income has increased in this period.
CNA/AZ/AAR/MM/2008