The US-deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Matthew Bryza says he is hopeful for a solution in Cyprus by the end of 2009.
He has yet expressed a cautious optimism towards a settlement by the end of this year, as he said the most difficult issues concerning the nature of the Cyprus problem will again be tackled at the end of the process.
Avoiding to give a certain deadline for the solution of the Cyprus problem, Bryza said the solution process cannot go forever.
The US-deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Matthew Bryza held a press conference in the buffer zone today, to evaluate contacts he held both in the Northern Cyrus and South Cyprus.
Bryza appreciated the two leaders’ joint willingness for a solution to the Cyprus problem and said both sides have been trying to understand each other’s perspective as part of heavy peaceful efforts.
He said there has been a very dynamic negotiations process going on in Cyprus within the presence of a positive energy.
Offering his country’s support to the two parties in Cyprus in their efforts to reach a political settlement on their own, Bryza pointed out that current negotiations have a unique nature as this time the two sides are negotiating on a basis of ideas they designed themselves, without outside assistance.
“There are serious differences of philosophical nature on some issues between the two parties such as the political justice and security, but I have been told that they can bridge the gaps”, Bryza said.
Referring to the process of opening the Yesilirmak(Limnitis) crossing point, he said the opening of the gate is not only a good development in terms of confidence-building measures but also a significant factor to accelerate efforts towards finding a solution.
He noted that the US is ready to provide financial assistance for infrastructure works in the area.
Expressing support to the peaceful efforts of the United Nations into the Cyprus solution process, Matthew Bryza reiterated the Washington’s desire towards the establishment of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation to reunify Cyprus. “We want all people of Cyprus to feel the sense of justice and human rights within a federal state” he stressed.
“We want the two sides to come up with a balance between the political minority and political majority where rights of both sides will be respected”, Bryza added. Deputy Assistant Secretary said establishing such a balance is not impossible.
Responding to a question on Turkey’s role in Cyprus, Mr Bryza emphasized that Turkey encourages a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation on the island.
For another question on the Greek Cypriot Administration’s oil exploration, which received the Turkish side’s widespread reaction, Bryza said this issue is a commercial and legal one and expressed the hope that it will not have an impact on the negotiations.