halil wrote:today meeting lasted for two and a half hours.the leaders first held a tete-a-tete meeting.
Speaking after the meeting, the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer has said that the leaders have exchanged their proposals on the criteria of the property issue.
Responding to a question, Mr Downer said, from the very beginning, the role of the United Nations is to help the two leaders to find a solution to the Cyprus problem.
Mr Talat and Mr Christofias will come together next Thursday, the 19th of February.
President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot Leader Dimitris Christofias resumed their discussions on the property issue.
The two leaders presented their positions on the criteria for a property settlement during the meeting which lasted for two and a half hours.
The property issue will stay on the agenda for the next meeting next Thursday.
Meanwhile,
President Mehmet Ali Talat said that the Greek Cypriot Side supported the idea of granting priority rights over properties to former owners.
In a short statement after the meeting, United Nations Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer said that the leaders had exchanged their proposals on the criteria for the settlement of the property issue.
He also said that the two leaders will continue their discussions on the property issue when the meet again next Thursday on the 19th.
Responding to a question as to whether there was any agreement reached on criteria; the UN Special Advisor said that it was an early stage in the discussions on the issue of property.
“They have a way to go, of course, not surprisingly. These are difficult issues and they are not going to be resolved in one meeting like that” he added.
Replying to a question on the UN team of experts being formed to assist the process, Downer said it was very important for himself and the people working with him to have a good understanding of “all international precedent and approaches that have been taken to these types of issues”.
He said that he was being assisted by a Canadian academic on constitutional matters and would continue to receive help in the future as well.
“Through this process we will draw on people who are renowned experts to help me and to help the United Nations team to make sure that we fully understand the issues” he replied.
The Australian diplomat however stressed that there was no change in the UN’s current role in the talks.
As I have said all along, our role is not to write a settlement to the Cyprus problem. Our role is to be as helpful as we can and for the people of Cyprus in the end to make the decisions about any settlement that they may agree” he added.
Yesterday’s meeting was the third session on the thorny issue of property.
Meanwhile, speaking after returning to the Presidential Palace, the President said that the Greek Cypriot Side supported the idea of granting priority over the rights of the property to its former owners.
The President also said that the criteria of compensation, exchange or restitution regarding the settlement of the property dispute were discussed at yesterday’s meeting.
“There was an evaluation paper presented at the previous meeting which we have yet to discuss. We will put forward our reaction to that paper once we finish examining it” he added.
AND here is the below news from the
UNFICYP
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I will just say a couple of words to explain what the leaders have been talking about today. You are probably aware that they were discussing the property issue today. They presented their positions on the criteria for a property settlement. Those discussions will continue next Thursday. If you have any questions I will be happy to answer them
Question:
Was there any agreement on those criteria?
Answer:
Well, this is a very early stage in those discussions. They have a way to go, of course, not surprisingly. As I have always said, these are difficult issues and they are not going to be resolved in one meeting like that.
Question:
Mr. Downer it has been reported that you have been reinforcing you team of experts. Would that signify a more hands-on approach from the United Nations in this process?
Answer:
As I said before, I think it is very important that I myself and my people working here have a very good understanding of the issues. There is no value in us not having a comprehensive understanding of the issues. So we of course are able under the budget of the United Nations to draw on people who are able to ensure that in particularly I understand all the international precedents and approaches that have been taken to these types of issues. So we have had an academic who has been helping us, he comes from a Canadian University - I think the University of Western Ontario. He is able to give me assistance and guidance on constitutional matters because that is what he is an expert on. Through this process we will draw on people who are renowned experts to help me and to help the United Nations team to make sure that we fully understand. I mean, everybody in this process needs to be on top of all the details and understand the issues, so that is really what it is about. As I have said all along, our role is not to write a settlement to the Cyprus problem. Our role is to be as helpful as we can and for the people of Cyprus in the end to make the decisions about any settlement that they may agree.
Question:
What was the climate like at today’s talks, Sir?
Answer:
Well, these are two people who know each other well and have a very good personal relationship, and that is reflected in the meetings
Question:
And was that reflected today as well?
Answer:
Yes, sure, it certainly was.
UNFICYP
