Cyprus-Forum.com

[halil]

Mehmet Ali Talat and Demetris Christofias have concluded another round of negotiations aimed at bringing a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem. In a statement issued at the end of today’s meeting, the two leaders said `we are encouraged by the important progress we have made so far on the chapters of Governance and Power Sharing, EU Matters, and the Economy and we are convinced that with perseverance we shall achieve a comprehensive settlement`.

Reading out the statement on behalf of the two leaders, the UN Envoy Alexander Downer said `while the negotiations remain confidential, it is recognized that the leaders may explain to their communities the progress made so far and the differences that still need to be resolved`.

`We have been engaged in a serious effort to find a solution to the Cyprus problem in the shortest possible time. We express our appreciation to the UN Secretary General for his mission of good offices entrusted to him by the Security Council and for his efforts aimed at finding a mutually agreed solution of the Cyprus Problem`, the statement said.

`We underscore that negotiations are being conducted under the overriding principle of the integrated whole approach, which means `Nothing is agreed unless everything is agreed` it continued.

The two leaders say they are convinced that their mutual concern for the common good of Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots and their will for a comprehensive solution will soon lead them to an exhaustive discussion of the remaining aspects of the Cyprus problem and the overcoming of the divergence positions soon, so as to achieve a mutually acceptable solution, that will be put to separate simultaneous referenda.

Today’s meeting was the last to be held between the two leaders before next month’s presidential election in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.