Cyprus President calls for patience in UN-led direct talks

President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias said here Monday he will announce whether or not progress in the direct talks for a Cyprus settlement has been achieved only when he deems the time has come.

Speaking to reporters at the Presidential Palace after his sixth meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat in the UN protected area, in the framework of direct negotiations to solve the Cyprus problem, President Christofias said he was very well aware that when he undertook the presidency of the Republic, things would not be easy. “I am very well aware of it. Some people are in a hurry. I have said this before. A lot of patience is required and nerves of steel, which I believe I possess”.

Asked if there was progress in today’s discussions, the President said “when I consider that the time has come to tell the people if we have progress or not, I will do so”.

Invited to comment statements that Talat is sending the notes of the talks to Ankara, the President replied that he was under no illusion that this was taking place. “Why should I be saddened by this? Do you think we were under the illusion that Mr. Talat was not informing Ankara on what is going on?”

President Christofias said that he will continue to have tete-a-tete meetings with the Turkish Cypriot leader because it is something useful and which helps relieve tension between the two sides”. Explanations are given on issues which have taken place and I think that this is useful”, he added.

UN Secretary General’s Special Representative in Cyprus Taye Brook Zerihoun announced after today’s meeting that the two leaders will have two meetings again next week, one on Tuesday November 11 and the other on Friday November 14.