The leaders of the two communities in Cyprus said here Monday that although some progress has been made in their discussions within the framework of the direct negotiations which began in September with a view to reach a solution of the Cyprus problem, this has been insufficient.
However they reaffirmed their commitment to do everything in their power to reach a settlement as soon as possible.
President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat pledged, in a joint statement, at the end of their 13th meeting, concluding their discussions which began in March 2008, say that “as we are entering a new year, we the two Leaders would like to reaffirm our strong commitment to find a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem”.
In their statement, they said “looking back to our efforts since March 2008, we recognize that we still need to consider a long list of chapters. We also assess that although some progress has been made, it has been insufficient. But we assure you we are resolved to do all in our power to reach a settlement as soon as possible”.
The leaders also thanked the UN for their contribution “to our effort”.
With this in mind, the two leaders added, “we would like 2009 to bring peace and prosperity to Cyprus, our common homeland, as well as the whole world”.
Answering questions after the leaders departed from the UN headquarters in the buffer zone, UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer said that today’s discussion was a continuation on the external affairs and powers and next year, at the first meeting on the 5th January, there will be a discussion about the so called hierarchy of norms and some other of the constitutional questions still left to discuss.
He said that Secretary General’s Special Representative in Cyprus Taye Brook Zerihoun will attend that meeting and he will also be present at the meetings which will be followed on the 12th and on the 16th of January.
Asked if he had told the Turkish side that the Annan Plan was a good opportunity for a solution and that it was a mistake for the EU to accept Cyprus without a solution, Downer replied “I said nothing to the media at all”.
He added that when he was in Turkey he did not have any discussions with the media at all.
Asked if he had said that to Turkish officials, Downer replied “I am not going into anything I said to any officials on any occasion”.
Invited to comment statements he was quoted by the Turkish media to have made that if the Cyprus issue was not solved in 2009 the UN will stop their efforts and Cyprus will be permanently divided, Downer said he did not see any such report, repeating he did not have any discussions with the Turkish media.
Downer added “we look forward to a productive year next year and I think there is a momentum here in these negotiations. The fact that the two leaders have made a joint statement here today is a very encouraging and a very positive development. And it is important that people look at their words and think about their words because these are two people very committed to a successful process”, the UN official remarked.
He added that “endless speculation about what or may have been said by other people, including me, in private meetings, you get that all the time. I was the FM of Australia for 12 years and words have been put in my mouth which I have never uttered. I just never get into any discussion on that”.
President Christofias and Talat have been engaged in direct negotiations since early September this year, aiming at reuniting the island, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.
