Cyprus-Forum.com

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UN Secretary Generals Special Adviser for Cyprus Alexander Downer evaluated the Cyprus negotiations process as not trying to obtain two separate states but a single state that has two federal provinces. [/b]

Speaking during an interview which was published in a Greek Cypriot newspaper, Mr. Downer said the two leaders in Cyprus have an exceptional opportunity to solve the Cyprus problem, and I don’t think that the negotiations process will end in failure’.

Noting that a better plan did not exist for the solution of the Cyprus problem, Downer said he has always said he was cautiously optimistic and he still felt this away about the negotiations process.

Explaining that no foreign forces could impose a solution during the negotiations process, Downer said ‘they can only try to aide during the process, that’s all.’

Reminding that it had become quite clear that a solution to the Cyprus problem would be found by Cypriots, as noted in the UN decisions as well, Downer said [b]‘Cypriots have agreed to find a bicommunal, bizonal federal solution to the Cyprus problem.’

Asked his views regarding a timetable for the talks, the UN Secretary Generals special Adviser for Cyprus said although the negotiations process isn’t a race he did note however that the talks could not continue endlessly.

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MR ERCAKICA COMMENTS ABOUT ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN GREEK CYPRIOT PRESS

The TRNC Presidential Spokesperson Hasan Ercakica has evaluated an expression which is being used within the framework of the solution process.

He said that during the negotiation process the phrase ‘founding state’ should be preferred to be use.

‘Even though various expressions are used while translating, the idea of two equal founding states on the island does not change during the negotiations process’, he added.

Mr. Ercakica issued a written statement after a news article was published in the Greek Cypriot press.

The Greek Cypriot newspaper published an interview with the UN Secretary Generals Special Adviser for Cyprus Alexander Downer in which he claimed that ‘the two leaders were negotiating for two federations under a single state’.

Noting that the words state, statehood and province all had different meanings in Turkish, English and Greek languages, the Presidential spokesman said each term can be used in various forms according to their political establishments and their own historical developments