Cyprus-Forum.com

[halil]

Remarks by Special Representative of the Secretary General Taye-Brook Zerihoun Following the Meeting of Cyprus Leaders

The Leaders began the meeting with a one-and-a-half hour tête-à-tête. Then, continuing their discussions on the federal executive, they heard from their two representatives on the follow-up meeting that they held on the 16th of October to help explain and clarify positions on the issue. The Leaders then took up the issue themselves, and had a constructive exchange of views, and then directed their representatives to carry on these discussions next Thursday. Following that, the leaders had a preliminary discussion on the legislature; these discussions will continue when the two Leaders meet again on the 3rd of November.

Questions:

Associated Press: What’s after this? Have they set a tentative agenda? What will follow? You know, property was supposed to be discussed at some point.

Taye-Brook Zerihoun: They are still dealing with power-sharing and governance. And as I’ve said, they have now moved to a discussion on the legislature.

AP: How many divisions are included in this section of the talks. Because it seems like it’s going on for a long time.

TBZ: Well, essentially there is the competencies, which they discussed first. Then they discussed the federal executive. Now they’re moving to the legislature.

AP: So there seems to be some kind convergence on ….

TBZ: On some issues, definitely. But there are some issues that cannot be discussed in isolation from other issues, so they have left some of these issues aside. They have asked their representatives to look at some issues, to find bridging ideas. So this is a process that will continue. And I think it’s going well. Thank you.

UNFICYP

[halil]

Once again, the two leaders in Cyprus came together yesterday within the framework of negotiations aimed at finding a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus Problem.
Talat and Christofias who are continuing to take up the issue of power sharing and governance started preliminary discussions on the issue of legislature at yesterday’s meeting.


The two leaders who met at the specially designated building for talks at the old Nicosia Airport started off yesterday’s talks with a private meeting that lasted for nearly an hour and half.
The two leaders then proceeded to continue talks in the presence of their delegations.

The UN Special Advisor Alexander Downer was not present at yesterday’s meeting.
No statement was made by the two leaders before or after the meeting.
Reading out a short statement to the press at the end of the meeting on behalf of the two leaders, the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative to Cyprus Taye Brook Zerihoun said that the two leaders continued today their discussions on the issue of federal executive.

He said that the two leaders heard from their two representatives on the follow up meeting that they held on the 16th of October aimed at explaining and clarifying the positions of the two sides.
The UN Special Representative said that the two leaders then took up the issue themselves and had a constructive exchange of views.
He added that the senior aides to the two leaders were instructed to carry on with the discussions next Thursday.

Explaining that preliminary discussions had also been held on the issue of legislature, he said that the two leaders will continue to discuss the issue when they meet again on the 3rd of November.
Responding to a question as to why talks on the issue of power sharing and governance has been going on for so long, the UN Special Representative said there has definitely been agreement on some issues.

He however added that some issues could not be discussed in isolation and had therefore been temporarily left aside.
“The two leaders have asked the representatives to look at these to find a bridge of ideas. So this is a process and I think it’s going well” he said.