Cyprus-Forum.com

[halil]

Security Council urges Cypriot leaders to step up UN-backed reunification talks

30 April 2009 – The Security Council today urged the political leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to accelerate momentum gained in United Nations-backed talks aimed at reunifying the Mediterranean island.
In a presidential statement read out by Ambassador Claude Heller of Mexico, which holds the rotating Council presidency for April, the 15-member body also welcomed progress made so far between Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

The two leaders have met 26 times since full-fledged power-sharing negotiations began in September, focusing on concerns involving the harmonization of Federal and Constituent State laws, delicate property issues and European Union membership.

Earlier today the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus said that the “grand vision” to bring the divided nation back together remains complicated but he is hopeful that it will happen.

“There shouldn’t be any expectation that it’s a simple matter to solve, otherwise it would have been solved long ago,” Alexander Downer told the press after briefing the Security Council on the matter.

“It is fair to say, as I’ve said throughout the process, that I’m cautiously optimistic, but I don’t underestimate the difficulties and challenges that are faced,” stressed Mr. Downer.

In May 2008, the two leaders committed themselves to working towards “a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as defined by relevant Security Council resolutions.”

The partnership will comprise a Federal Government with a single international personality, along with a Turkish Cypriot Constituent State and a Greek Cypriot Constituent State, which will be of equal status.
“It is important that all parties in Cyprus, north and south, do support these negotiations, because the alternative is a dark future,” Mr. Downer warned.

The UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has been in place on the island since 1964, after the outbreak of inter-communal violence. It is tasked with preventing a recurrence of the fighting, contributing to a return to normal conditions and maintaining law and order.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?N ... yprus&Cr1=

[halil]

Security Council
SC/9648

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York

Security Council

6115th Meeting (PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL WELCOMES PROGRESS MADE IN ‘FULLY FLEDGED NEGOTIATIONS’
AIMED AT REUNIFICATION OF CYPRUS, IN PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT
Also Commends Leaders of Greek, Turkish Cypriots,

Encourages Special Adviser to Offer Any Support Needed to Achieve Settlement

Commending the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders for the political leadership they have shown in the course of ongoing United Nations-backed talks aimed at reunifying the divided island, the Security Council today warmly welcomed the progress made so far in the fully fledged negotiations, and the leaders’ joint statements.

“The Security Council strongly urges the leaders to increase the momentum in the negotiations to ensure the full exploitation of this opportunity to reach a comprehensive settlement based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality as set out in the relevant Security Council resolutions,” said Council President Claude Heller of Mexico, reading out a statement approved by all members of the 15-nation body following closed door consultations with Alexander Downer, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus.
council members also emphasized the importance of all parties engaging “fully, flexibly and constructively” and looked forward to decisive progress in the negotiations in the near future. They recognized that a solution requires the support of both sides and will require the approval of both communities in separate and simultaneous referendums.

“In this context, the Security Council fully supports the Secretary-General’s good offices mission and encourages [his] Special Adviser to continue to offer the leaders any support they need to achieve a settlement,” Ambassador Heller said, adding that the Council reiterated its full support for the process and underlined the benefits that reunification would bring to the island.

In May 2008, the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, committed themselves to working towards “a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as defined by relevant Security Council resolutions”. The partnership will comprise a Federal Government with a single international personality, along with a Turkish Cypriot Constituent State and a Greek Cypriot Constituent State, which will be of equal status.

The meeting was convened at 4:30 p.m. and adjourned at 4:32 p.m.
The full text of presidential statement S/PRST/2009/10 reads as follows:
“The Security Council commends the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders for the political leadership they have shown and warmly welcomes the progress made so far in the fully fledged negotiations, and the leaders’ joint statements.

“the Security Council strongly urges the leaders to increase the momentum in the negotiations to ensure the full exploitation of this opportunity to reach a comprehensive settlement based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality as set out in the relevant Security Council resolutions.
“The Security Council emphasises the importance of all parties engaging fully, flexibly and constructively and looks forward to decisive progress in the negotiations in the near future.
“The Security Council recognizes that a solution requires the support of both sides and will require the approval of both communities in separate and simultaneous referenda. In this context, the Security Council fully supports the Secretary-General’s good offices mission and encourages the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser to continue to offer the leaders any support they need to achieve a settlement.

“The Security Council reiterates its full support for the process and underlines the benefits that reunification will bring to the island.”

[halil]

`WE FULLY SUPPORT TURKISH CYPRIOTS DURING NEGOTIATIONS PROCESS`

Turkey’s permanent representative to the United Nations Ambassador Baki Ilkin has emphasized the fact that the solution to be found to the Cyprus problem must be one that is also acceptable by Turkish Cypriots.

Answering reporters’ questions after the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer briefed the United Nations Security Council, Mr. Ilkin reiterated Turkey’s support to the Turkish Cypriot side during the negotiations process in Cyprus and broke down Turkey’s views regarding the issue into 3 points.

Firstly, Turkey supports a just and permanent solution being found on the island within the framework of the United Nations parameters that are present in the country. Secondly, Turkey didn’t want the negotiations process to be open-ended. As the years pass, the differences between the two peoples on the island increase. And thirdly we believe there is a great need for the United Nations constructive and active role during the Cyprus negotiations process,’ said the Turkish Ambassador.


‘We also believe there is need for the UN Special Adviser for Cyprus Alexander Downer and the Good Offices Mission in Cyprus,’ he added.
Upon being asked his views regarding Mr. Downer’s statement that progress had been achieved during the Cyprus negotiations, Mr. Ilkin reminded that Mr. Downer was the person who heading the negotiations and his statements should be taken as a basis’.

‘Mr. Downer is continuing his duty on the island neutrally’, he added.
Upon being asked whether or not he was optimistic about the negotiations process in Cyprus, Mr. Ilkin said as a diplomat he was always optimistic.

‘As a guarantor country, Turkey will always support the Turkish Cypriot people during the negotiations process, but of course at the end of the day when a solution plan is reached it should also be one that is acceptable by Turkish Cypriots’, concluded the Turkish Ambassador.

[Oracle]

The UN should restrict themselves to just supplying the evidence gathered, of Turkish violations. It's high time we turned, fully, towards the EU to serve justice and help re-unify our island, with normal Democratic rules, where the TCs are made to face the fact they are mere mortals, like the rest of us!

Invasion, occupation, colonisation, as carried out by Turkey, should not be rewarded by special favours, favouring the dismemberment of a sovereign EU country.

[roseandchan]

halil,
can i ask when this info was made available as there is a lot of talk right now, that the talks are over, in light of the recent ruling?
i read last week that the turkish gov is still in favor of the talks and mr talat.

[Viewpoint]

The partnership will comprise a Federal Government with a single international personality, along with a Turkish Cypriot Constituent State and a Greek Cypriot Constituent State, which will be of equal status.

[paliometoxo]

all these leaders urging leaders to do this and that what they need to do is tell turkey to stfu and allow re unification and force them to allow it. then we will be ok

[boulio]

In May 2008, the two leaders committed themselves to working towards “a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as defined by relevant Security Council resolutions.”

thats whats the key,security council resoloutions.Do any of them state that the north will be turkish cypriot constituint state?

[Viewpoint]

The partnership will comprise a Federal Government with a single international personality, along with a Turkish Cypriot Constituent State and a Greek Cypriot Constituent State, which will be of equal status.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?N ... yprus&Cr1=

[boulio]

vp the article says that not the security council resolution,what does sc resolutions say?