Bananiot wrote:Prior to the meeting, Downer read a personal note of the SG of the UN. Christofias and Eroglu greeted the message included in the note but later on, Chrostofias's partner in the government, Karoyian of DIKO, embarked on a scathing attack on Downer and the Secretary General. He more or less claimed that these two are scheming against the Cypriot people. This attack brought the wrath of DISI parliamentarian Christos Pourgourides and Katsourides, AKEL's Parliamentary spokesman.
DIKO and EDEK are the two parties that have rejected every single effort made to solve the problem since 1975. They are lining their rejectionist policy with much patriotic jargon and while the ship is going down, some naive and stupid people are cheering them on top.
I am not suprised with them Bananiot . Here it is what was said !
Cyprus talks resume with message from Secretary-General and discussions on property
The Cyprus talks resumed today at the UN offices in Nicosia after a two-month break related to the April elections in the north of the island. Today’s meeting was the first between Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and new Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu within the framework of the negotiations aimed at reunifying the divided island. The leaders had an informal meeting last night at the invitation of the Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alexander Downer.
At the outset of today's encounter, Mr. Downer read out a message from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the resumption of the talks, a gesture welcomed by both leaders. During the discussions, the leaders confirmed previously agreed convergences on the issue of property and agreed to proceed with discussions on property from where they were left off before the talks broke up earlier in the year. The next meeting of the Cyprus leaders is scheduled to take place on Thursday, 3 June.
http://www.unficyp.org/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=1
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
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Message on the resumption of Cyprus talks
26 May 2010
Delivered by Mr. Alexander Downer,
Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Cyprus
I warmly welcome both delegations back to the negotiating table. The parties made strong progress before the talks were suspended in late March. I am very encouraged by the convergences that were reached. I am also encouraged that the two leaders have agreed to continue on the basis of the UN parameters, Security Council resolutions and the joint statements made on 23 May and 1 July 2008.
The peace process is at an important point. A settlement is within your grasp and this opportunity must be seized, as time is not on your side. Achieving an agreement will require vision, statesmanship and courage. Your communities want and expect a settlement. This will require give-and-take on both sides, and the ability to understand the issues and what is at stake from the perspective of the other side. You must convince not only your own community of the value of a settlement; you must also convince the other community of your good faith. This is not a zero-sum game. It is possible, and indeed necessary, to arrive at a solution that clearly benefits both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
The international community is committed to continuing its support for this Cypriot-led process. I truly believe that you can reach an agreement in the coming months. Together with my representative, Mr. Downer, I remain ready and willing to help.
Transcript of Remarks by Special Adviser of the Secretary-General Alexander Downer following the
Meeting of Cyprus leaders
United Nations Protected Area, Nicosia,
26 May 2010
The first point I would like to make is that the meeting was held in a very warm and positive environment. I began the meeting by reading out a statement by the Secretary-General; and we will distribute that statement to you now that it’s been made. The two leaders both very much welcomed that statement; they made introductory remarks to each other; and then they began to discuss the property issue. What the two leaders agreed was that they would confirm existing convergences and they would continue the discussions on property from where they were left off before the talks broke up earlier in the year. The two leaders will be meeting again next Thursday [3 June] here at 10 o’clock in the morning. In the meantime, the two Representatives – Mr Ozersay and Mr Iacovou – will meet here on Monday [31 May] afternoon at 4 o’clock.
Question: They have confirmed or they will confirm the convergences on the property issue?
Mr Downer: They confirmed existing convergences.
Question: These convergences are they just on property or on everything that has been…?
Mr Downer: Well, they discussed property today. They didn’t discuss the other chapters.
Question: Did they discuss anything about the basis of the negotiations?
Mr Downer: You can see all of that is covered in the Secretary-General’s statement.
