UN envoy meets with Greek Cypriot, Turkish Cypriot leaders
| Publisher | UN News Service |
| Publication Date | 17 September 2014 |
| Cite as | UN News Service, UN envoy meets with Greek Cypriot, Turkish Cypriot leaders, 17 September 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5423e91d4.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The United Nations Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide today met today with the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, who reaffirmed their commitment to lead negotiations through a win-win approach and reach a settlement soon.
"The leaders met today in a friendly and constructive atmosphere following their fruitful discussions at dinner last night," said Mr. Eide in a statement to the press.
According to the statement, the leaders agreed that their negotiators and teams had completed submitting proposals on all issues and recognised the enormous amount of work that had been conducted to conclude the second phase of the negotiations.
"The leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to lead the negotiations in an interdependent, results-oriented manner, through a win-win approach - with the aim to reach a settlement as soon as possible and hold separate simultaneous referenda thereafter, in order to put an end to the unacceptable status quo, as outlined in the Joint Declaration."
Further, the leaders agreed to move to the next phase of structured negotiations and to increase the fluency of their meetings, as appropriate, and to hold meetings at least twice a month.
"They have instructed their negotiators to enter into active negotiations with a view to bridging the gaps through real negotiation on unresolved core issues and to increase the pace of their meetings," said Mr. Eide.
The leaders also thanked Ms. [Lisa] Buttenheim for her "tireless efforts" in facilitating talks during the five months that she was acting Special Adviser.
The United Nations works through the good offices of the Secretary-General to assist in the search for a comprehensive and mutually acceptable settlement to the Cyprus problem.
The UN also maintains a peacekeeping force in Cyprus, known as UNFICYP, which was deployed in 1964, when inter-communal fighting erupted on the Mediterranean island.
