Cyprus Talks: UNSG Ban Ki-moon says period ahead ‘crucial’ for Cyprus, as both leaders expressed satisfaction

Cyprus: After meeting with the two leaders of the divided Cyprus island on Sunday, the Unite Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon aid the period ahead will be a crucial one for Cyprus. Mr. Ban who pledged that the United Nations would do their maximum best to promote a successful outcome of the negotiations said “Time is of the essence.”


Speaking after his meeting with Greek Cypriot president, Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, Ban said he had a productive meeting with the two leaders and they had discussed the state of play in the ongoing negotiations.

Mr. Ban commended the two leaders “for their remarkable efforts to date, and for the progress achieved” so far and also welcomed their joint commitment to further intensify efforts in line with their stated desire to achieve a comprehensive settlement within 2016.

“I encouraged both leaders to continue to engage in the process with determination, courage and creativity,” Ban said.

“They informed me that they intend to further intensify their negotiations upon their return to Cyprus. I urged them to make the most of this opportunity, in order to resolve their outstanding issues, without delay, in earnest” Ban added.

Ban said both leaders had asked him to step up his personal engagement in the process.

“I stand ready to support them in whatever they may require, including on the international dimensions of the issue,” he said.

Shortly after the meeting Greek Cypriot president Anastasiades tweeted that he was “completely satisfied” from the meeting with the UNSG, adding that; “Our efforts for a solution will continue with the same determination.”


Speaking at a news conference shortly after the meeting, Anastasiades noted that there were no issues of timetables or arbitration, and that the process remained “Cypriot owned”.

Anastasiades said that the meeting with Ban provided an opportunity to present the progress of the negotiations to date and the existing differences that remained in certain chapters of the negotiations .

Anastasiades said what had been agreed in the meeting was that the two leaders would engage in intensive effort on their return to Cyprus, to achieve solutions as soon as possible, if possible in 2016, “even if it is ambitious”, convergences that would lead to a solution “that will reunite the country and institutions and create prospects for a prosperous country, removed from the problems which we faced in the past”.

Anastasiades reiterated that the leaders were determined to “work tirelessly” to achieve a solution that addresses the concerns of both communities, “a sustainable and lasting solution that respects the human rights of all Cypriots and does not require any dependencies on third parties,” he said in reference to guarantees.
 
Both leaders had asked for Ban’s personal engagement in moving ahead with the talks following an intensive period of negotiations.

Ban met separately with Anastasiades last week, while the UN chief also held a meeting with Akinci on Saturday before the joint meeting with the two leaders.

According to a UN report, during the 20-minute meeting with Akinci, Mr. Ban welcomed the significant progress achieved so far by the two leaders in the past year as well as the joint statement issued by both leaders on September 14, which requested his personal engagement moving forward in the negotiations.

“He [Ban] was encouraged by the determination and commitment demonstrated by the two leaders as well as the atmosphere of mutual trust, determination and goodwill in and surrounding the talks,” the UN said.

Progress has been made across many of the chapters discussed but differences exists on all.

Property, territory, security and guarantees remain the toughest issues on the table where both sides have drawn red lines on various aspects.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting with Ban, Turkish Cypriot leader, Akinci said it was time to create peace for future Cyprus generations and emphasized that when it comes to security, empathy was the key word.

Akinci also warned of “risks” if the negotiations continued to drag into 2017.

Akinci said he had exchanged views with Mr. Ban and discussed about the unique progress that has been achieved so far and how that could be transformed “into a success story” by road-mapping the way in the few months ahead.

“Of course important for both communities in Cyprus to get good results,” Akinci said.

“I hope that today’s meeting will be very important for us because the long-awaited final solution is to shed light on ways to move to a settlement of a 50-year-old problem.”

Akinci acknowledged that Ban promised to assist the two leaders in any way he could and had reaffirmed his personal commitment towards the negotiations.

“It is in the interest of all parties to reach a solution as soon as possible in Cyprus,” said Akinci.

“The secretary-general tells us he is ready to take the time to give every support to this process. Therefore, I would like to hope that we leave today in a positive climate after today’s meeting.”

According to reports by Cyprus Mail, some of the risks Akicni sees going into 2017 includes Ban's departure as UN chief, a change in US President, hydrocarbons exploration by the Greek Cypriots, and the presidential elections coming up in south Cyprus in 2018.

Speaking on guarantees and security, Akinci said the guarantor powers – Greece, Turkey and Britain – were talking to each other sincerely on that aspect.

The Greek Cypriots side do not support guarantees in the ongoing negotiations.

Akinci said that the Turkish Cypriots side wants the continuation of Turkish guarantee, adding that the issue needed to be viewed realistically by both sides.

Akinci said neither side should see the security measures of the other as a threat to themselves, adding that it was a delicate balance “so that everyone can feel safe”.

“We need security, but our security should not be a threat to the other community. The key word ’empathy’, trying to understand the feelings of the other side … I’m trying to do this as much as possible…” Akinci said.

Source: Cyprus Mail