Cypriot Leaders Renew Pledge To Reach Settlement As Latest UN-Led Talks Wrap Up
New York, Dec 22 2008 2:10PM
The Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders reaffirmed their commitment today to United Nations-sponsored talks aimed
at reunifying the Mediterranean island and pledged to reach a settlement as soon as possible.
“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,” Greek Cypriot leader Demetris
Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat said in a joint statement from Nicosia, following today’s
meeting.
In May, the two leaders committed to a partnership that will comprise a Federal Government with a single international
identity, as well as a Turkish Cypriot Constituent State and a Greek Cypriot Constituent State which will be of equal
status. They met on 16 December to examine issues concerning state and federal laws.
Speaking to the press after today’s meeting at the UN Protected Area in Nicosia, the Secretary-General’s Special
Representative for Cyprus, Alexander Downer, described the joint statement as “a very encouraging and a very positive
development.”
The two leaders, Mr. Downer said, focused their discussion on external affairs and the powers of a federal government.
They will meet again on 5 January to hash out the “hierarchy of norms” – the relationship between laws passed by the
Federal Government and legislation created by the country’s constituent States – as well as other remaining
constitutional concerns. Two more meetings are planned for the following week.
Mr. Downer dismissed reporters’ claims that the UN would end the talks and that Cyprus would be permanently divided if a
solution is not reached next year. He said the negotiations are gaining momentum and that he looks forward to productive
discussions in 2009.
The full-fledged power-sharing talks, central to the reunification process in Cyprus, began in September. UN
peacekeepers have been deployed there since 1964 to prevent fighting between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot
communities.
ENDS