Thursday, October 08, 2009

Cyprus: Cypriots should focus on unification issues

The senior United Nations official charged with steering negotiations between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders in their talks on unification of the Mediterranean island today urged the people of Cyprus to concentrate on the issues at hand in the ongoing discussions.

Today’s meeting between Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat to discuss governance issues and the presidency of a bi-communal republic were positive, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer told reporters in Nicosia.

Mr. Downer added that the leaders will meet again tomorrow to continue talks on governance and twice again next week.

“It is really important here in Cyprus that people concentrate on the central question of getting the Cyprus question resolved,” said Mr. Downer.

In May last year, Mr. Christofias and Mr. Talat committed themselves to working towards a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality, as defined by relevant Security Council resolutions.

The partnership would comprise a Federal Government with a single international personality, along with a Turkish Cypriot Constituent State and a Greek Cypriot Constituent State, which would be of equal status.

Source: UN
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