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Transcript of Remarks by Special Adviser of the Secretary-General Alexander Downer following the 22 December Meeting

The discussion today was a continuation of the discussion about the External Affairs powers and next year at the first meeting which is on the 5th [January] there will be a discussion about the so-called hierarchy of norms and some of the other constitutional questions still left to discuss. That meeting will be followed by another on the 12th [January] and there will be a further meeting on the 16 January.

Question:
Will you be here for the meetings?

Answer:
I won’t be here on 5 January but I will be here for the other two. Mr. Zerihoun will be here for the meeting of the 5 January.

Question:
Mr. Downer did you really say to the Turkish side that the Annan Plan was a good opportunity for a solution and that it was a mistake for the EU to accept Cyprus without a solution?

Answer:
I have said nothing to the media at all. When I was in Turkey I had no discussions with anybody in the media at all.

Question:
To Turkish officials?

Answer:
I am not going in to anything I say to any officials on any occasions.

Question:
According to the Turkish press while you were in Ankara in your meetings you said if the solution is not reached in 2009 the UN would stop their efforts and Cyprus would be permanently divided.

Answer:
Well I haven’t seen the report, but I didn’t have any discussions with any Turkish media at all and all of the comments I made and discussions that we had both in Ankara and Athens and all of my discussions are private discussions and I wouldn’t get into that. We look forward to a productive year next year of discussions and I think as I have said all along, there is momentum here in these negotiations. I think the fact that the two leaders have made a joint statement today is a very encouraging and a very positive development. It is important that people look at their words and think about their words because these are two people very committed to a successful process. An endless speculation about what may or may not have been said by other people including me in private meetings, you get it all the time. I was the Foreign Minister of Australia for nearly 12 years and no manner of words have been put into my mouth which I have or have not said. So I just never get into discussion about that.
UNFICYP

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Joint Statement of the Leaders on 22 December 2008

"As we are entering a new year, we the two Leaders would like to reaffirm our strong commitment to find a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.

Looking back to our efforts since March 2008, we recognize that we still need to consider a long list of chapters. We also assess that although some progress has been made, it has been insufficient. But we assure you we are resolved to do all in our power to reach a settlement as soon as possible. We would like to thank the United Nations for their contribution to our effort.

With this in mind, we would like 2009 to bring peace and prosperity to Cyprus, our common homeland, as well as the whole world."