Cyprus-Forum.com

[cannedmoose]

Cautions optimism over talks on talks - Negotiations to go ahead without Prendergast, who just resigned
By Jean Christou

TALKS IN New York on the possibility of resuming Cyprus negotiations were due to continue late last night while yesterday politicians at home were cautiously optimistic about the outcome.

Presidential envoy Tasos Tzonis began talks with UN Under-secretary for Political Affairs Sir Kieran Prendergast on Monday, which will end tomorrow. The talks are focusing on exploring how a new round of negotiations could be brought about.

Reports form New York yesterday said the meetings had turned to a more substantive mode on Tuesday and would continue in this vein.

However hopes that Prendergast would be sent to the region at the end of this month appeared to be in doubt yesterday when it was announced that he had submitted his resignation.

UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan expressed regret at the resignation, according to reports from New York. The reports said Prendergast would remain on the Cyprus issue only until the beginning of next month. Although he will remain a UN employee until the end of the year, Prendergast’s accumulated leave allows him to take up his new job at Harvard in September.

CyBC last night quoted sources in New York as saying Prendergast had been disappointed at not being appointed as UN envoy to the Middle East, a position just handed to former Cyprus envoy Alvaro de Soto.

At home yesterday House President Demetris Christofias appeared to be “cautiously optimistic” about the New York meetings.

He warned however that it would be hard to make any assessment at this early stage since negotiations has just begun and were confidential.

”The aim is to resume negotiations for a political settlement. It is hard for anyone to evaluate the outcome of the current meetings in New York when they have only just begun,” he said.
Christofias said it seemed that the talks were entering into the substance of the issue but he added that this was not the end but only the beginning of deliberations.

”Personally, I am cautiously optimistic but I do not want to create any unrealistic expectations,” he said.

“Our hope is that through our efforts a dialogue will resume on the correct foundations, with respect to UN principles and the inalienable rights of the people of Cyprus in order to find a solution that will be acceptable to both communities.”

Foreign Minister George Iacovou said the contacts were “unfolding in a satisfactory manner”.
”We are at the initial investigative stage with an emphasis on procedural matters,” he said.
Tzonis, the director of the President’s Diplomatic Office was tasked last week to meet UN officials and set out the positions of the Greek Cypriot side with regard to what procedures could be followed if talks were to resume.

The government wants no conditions, restrictions or other predetermined issues during any new round of Cyprus talks. It also wants no timetables nor arbitration by Annan.

[Kifeas]

Alvara de Soto is gone, Prendergast is going, I wonder when Kofi Annan is going to go?

[boulio]

http://www.naftemporiki.gr/news/static/ ... 052420.htm


says meeting today in new york lasted 2 1/2 hours,another one scheduled for tommorow,these gi=uys sure have a lot to talk about

[magikthrill]

i think ill head over to UN Plaza and start egging all of them.

[brother]

You do that and egg them from me too.