President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat pledged here today to do their utmost to achieve a settlement of the Cyprus issue this year.
The two were speaking to the press at the launch of direct talks, after a meeting which marked the beginning of the negotiating process ahead, which took place in the presence of Alexander Downer, Special Adviser of the Secretary General and Special Representative of the SG and UNFICYP Chief of Mission Taye Brook Zerihoun.
The meeting lasted almost two hours. The two leaders were accompanied by their advisers, Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou and Turkish Cypriot Ozdil Nami.
Addressing the press, Downer said that it was a great honour for the UN to host the beginning of the formal negotiations on Cyprus. “This is, without any doubt, an historic day for Cyprus, a very important day for Cyprus and a settlement will be an inspiration to a troubled world”, he said.
Downer said he was “very impressed with the goodwill shown by the two leaders towards each other, their strong, personal relationship, the good humour they both have and it has been a very clear demonstration of the sincerity of the two leaders to achieve a successful settlement”.
The next round of talks will be held on 11 September and the discussion, said Downer, will begin with the topic of governance and power sharing.
Asked if the Cyprus problem can be resolved this year, President Christofias replied “we shall try our utmost to achieve this aim as soon as possible,” noting that he could not guarantee this would happen this year.
“As soon as possible, I cannot guarantee, neither Talat can guarantee tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. This is a common desire, and we shall make common efforts in order to achieve this noble target for Cyprus and for the Cypriots”, he said.
Asked if he was at the talks without pressure from Ankara, Talat said that Ankara supports a solution, adding that there has been a stalemate for the past four years. “We are in favour of a solution, Ankara is supporting us, and we are confident that we will succeed in concluding a comprehensive agreement and hopefully as soon as possible as my friend Demetris said, and hopefully this year.”
Asked if he had anything encouraging to announce about the opening of Limnitis checkpoint, to facilitate movement to and from the island’s northern Turkish occupied areas, Talat said the representatives of the two leaders will continue discussions on the issue and conclude.
“There is trust in our representatives”, he said, adding that today’s issue was the start of full fledged negotiations.
Downer delivered a message from the UN Secretary-General on the launch of negotiations on Cyprus, in which Ban Ki Moon welcomed the formal launch of the “fully fledged negotiations aimed at reaching a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem”.
“I commend the leaders for their seriousness of purpose, sense of compromise and commitment to seeing the peace process through to a successful conclusion”, he said.
The United Nations supports and encourages both parties, the SG said, “as they take this historic step together, so as to reach a negotiated settlement to reunify the island for the benefit of all the people of Cyprus”.
He assured the parties, that “as requested, the UN will provide unwavering support through the efforts of his Special Adviser, and his Special Representative, and all the United Nations' team”.
Christofias and Talat decided on July 25 to start full-fledged negotiations, under the good offices mission of the United Nations Secretary – General.
The aim of the full-fledged negotiations is to find a mutually acceptable solution to the Cyprus problem, which will safeguard the fundamental and legitimate rights and interests of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The agreed solution will be put to separate simultaneous referenda.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the island’s northern third.
