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PRESIDENT TALAT SAYS THE GENEREAL PRINCIPLE AGREED IS TO CLOSE FIRST CHAPTER BY FRIDAY



The next round of Cyprus peace negotiations which will be held on this Friday is expected to be the last round on the first chapter- governance and power-sharing.


Speaking to reporters on his return from yesterday’s meeting, President Mehmet Ali Talat said they aim to finish up with the first chapter on Friday.


Mr Talat informed that during yesterday’s meeting, the Greek Cypriot response to the issue of authorities to be given to the federal government and its constituent states was discussed.

He said the Greek Cypriot side also presented its long-awaited proposals over the issue of deadlock resolving mechanisms.

The Turkish Cypriot side will present its response on these proposals by next week in an effort to complete discussions on the first chapter of talks.

`However, the general principle agreed is to close the first chapter by Friday and move on with the chapter on property` the President noted.


Transcript of Remarks by Special Adviser of the Secretary-General Alexander Downer following the meeting on 12 January 2009
Very briefly let me tell you what the issues discussed during the meeting today were. The meeting began with a tete a tete which is the tradition of the leaders meetings and that lasted for approximately half an hour. Subsequently there was discussion about relations between a federal government and the constituent states that was quite a long discussion about that. And thirdly there was a renewal of a discussion that had been held sometime earlier on deadlock resolving mechanisms. These discussions will continue again on Friday morning. It will be at 8:30am. That will be the last discussion for the time being between the leaders on governance and power sharing and then in all probability at their next meeting they will work out the date for next meeting next Friday. At the next meeting they will begin discussion on the property question.
UNFICYP