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Speaking at the end of today’s meeting, TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat said that convergence had been reached during today’s meeting.
He said that convergence has been reached on areas taken up by the special representatives during the week.

“We have grown a little closer to reaching an agreement on the property issue. Areas marked in red and blue were changed into black today. There are still a few differences remaining but we found the opportunity to converge on a number of issues” he added.

The President also expressed his belief that more convergence will be reached on the property issue when they meet next Tuesday.

Responding to a question, the President said that it was still too early to determine criteria and that there will still much work to be done on the issue of property.


Transcript of Remarks by Special Adviser of the Secretary-General Alexander Downer following 13 November meeting

Just very briefly, I wanted to say that the leaders began the session with the traditional tête-à-tête session and then moved into the plenary, where there was a continuation of the discussions on property. These discussions will be pursued during the course of next week, as well. The leaders will be meeting as well on Tuesday, and the representatives during the course of the week.
So, that is about all I have for you today.

Question: Was there and progress today?

Answer: Oh yes, every day inching along.

Question: Could you elaborate a little bit more? Were there any bridging proposals at all on the table?

Answer: Well, we are not going, of course, to get into the details of the negotiations, but they have had a good session today a good opportunity to talk through the issues and continue to work through the property chapter. There will be more discussion about that during the course of next week. But that, of course, is the focus of the negotiations at the moment.

Question: Sir, you yourself described property as a very important and very difficult issue. Do you feel once the leaders overcome this, things will become a lot smoother and positive things will proceed faster?

Answer: Well, for every part of the negotiation where there is agreement the process of course gets easier. So, there is no question of that.

Question: But there are lots more important issues?

Answer: Well, there are other issues, but property is a difficult issue. I mean, naturally, people can understand that, a difficult legal issue and a difficult economic issue; so it takes time to work through these details.

Question: Did the advisers of the two leaders bring anything new to the table?

Answer: You will have to get them to talk about that if they want to talk about their particular proposals; that’s something I think they should do.

Question: How long will they discuss the property issue?

Answer: Until they feel satisfied that they have reached a sufficient level of agreement to move on to another chapter.

Thanks very much.

UNFICYP