Downer to visit Cyprus on March 11th

Secretary General’s Special Adviser Alexander Downer will be in Cyprus on March 11, for exploratory talks with the two leaders, UN source told CNA.

The Australian former Foreign Minister will be received by newly elected President Nicos Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu to explore their intensions as regards the possibilities to resume Cyprus talks.

After the completion of his contacts in Nicosia, Downer is expected to travel to New York to consult with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and inform the Security Council.

The SG is expected soon to communicate with Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, conveying the same message which has already conveyed to President Anastasiades, regarding his desire to restart negotiations aiming to reach a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

Repeated rounds of UN-led talks have not led to a political settlement that would reunite Cyprus, which has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion. The most recent round of talks, which began in September 2008, first between outgoing President Demetris Christofias and former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and then were continued by Eroglu, was suspended by the Turkish Cypriot side in the summer, claiming Cyprus’ six monthly Presidency of the Council of the EU was an obstacle to the talks.