02/02/2017 09:32
Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci requested the United Nations on Wednesday to prepare, in consultation with the guarantor powers, for the continuation of the Conference on Cyprus at political level in early March.
UN Secretary General`s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide said in a written statement, following the meeting which Anastasiades and Akinci had in the framework of their UN-led negotiations aiming to solve the Cyprus problem, that the two leaders decided that they will meet weekly through the month of February to address outstanding issues and that their negotiators will also continue their regular meetings. According to Eide, the next leaders’ meeting will be held on 9 February 2017.
The UN diplomat said in his statement that during their meeting "the leaders took stock of developments since the Conference on Cyprus was convened in Geneva, on 12 January, and the subsequent session that was held at the level of deputies in Mont Pelerin on 18-19 January. They underscored their strong resolve and determination to maintain the current momentum."
Eide noted that "in line with the statement of the Conference on Cyprus of 12 January, the leaders decided on the way forward for the negotiations. In this regard, they have decided on the following:
a) They will meet weekly through the month of February to address outstanding issues;
b) The negotiators will also continue their regular meetings; and
c) The leaders requested the United Nations to prepare, in consultation with the guarantor powers, for the continuation of the Conference on Cyprus at political level in early March," Eide noted.
He added that "the next leaders’ meeting will be held on 9 February 2017."
The Conference on Cyprus convened under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, with the participation of Anastasiades and Akinci, the Foreign Ministers of Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom as guarantor powers, and in the presence of the European Union as an observer, to address the issue of security and guarantees, a crucial chapter in discussions for a Cyprus settlement.
The Conference decided to establish a working group at the level of deputies to identify specific questions and the instruments needed to address them, and that the Conference will continue at political level immediately thereafter to review the outcome of the working group’s discussions.
In parallel, according to the decision, the negotiations on outstanding issues in the other chapters will continue between the two sides in Cyprus.
The working group of deputies met in Mont-Pelerin, Switzerland, on January 18-19, and according to the UNSG`s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide "successfully completed the mandate entrusted to it by the Conference."
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Anastasiades and Akinci have been engaged in UN-led negotiations since May 2015, with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof.
UN Secretary General`s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide said in a written statement, following the meeting which Anastasiades and Akinci had in the framework of their UN-led negotiations aiming to solve the Cyprus problem, that the two leaders decided that they will meet weekly through the month of February to address outstanding issues and that their negotiators will also continue their regular meetings. According to Eide, the next leaders’ meeting will be held on 9 February 2017.
The UN diplomat said in his statement that during their meeting "the leaders took stock of developments since the Conference on Cyprus was convened in Geneva, on 12 January, and the subsequent session that was held at the level of deputies in Mont Pelerin on 18-19 January. They underscored their strong resolve and determination to maintain the current momentum."
Eide noted that "in line with the statement of the Conference on Cyprus of 12 January, the leaders decided on the way forward for the negotiations. In this regard, they have decided on the following:
a) They will meet weekly through the month of February to address outstanding issues;
b) The negotiators will also continue their regular meetings; and
c) The leaders requested the United Nations to prepare, in consultation with the guarantor powers, for the continuation of the Conference on Cyprus at political level in early March," Eide noted.
He added that "the next leaders’ meeting will be held on 9 February 2017."
The Conference on Cyprus convened under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, with the participation of Anastasiades and Akinci, the Foreign Ministers of Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom as guarantor powers, and in the presence of the European Union as an observer, to address the issue of security and guarantees, a crucial chapter in discussions for a Cyprus settlement.
The Conference decided to establish a working group at the level of deputies to identify specific questions and the instruments needed to address them, and that the Conference will continue at political level immediately thereafter to review the outcome of the working group’s discussions.
In parallel, according to the decision, the negotiations on outstanding issues in the other chapters will continue between the two sides in Cyprus.
The working group of deputies met in Mont-Pelerin, Switzerland, on January 18-19, and according to the UNSG`s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide "successfully completed the mandate entrusted to it by the Conference."
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Anastasiades and Akinci have been engaged in UN-led negotiations since May 2015, with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof.
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