UN envoy to Cyprus meet leaders, meeting productive

UN envoy to Cyprus, Jane Holl Lute met both leaders again on Tuesday morning before departing from the island after a brief visit on Sunday and Mondaythat the two sides have described as productive so far.

Lute met with Greek Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades at 8.30am on Tuesday and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci two hours later after her meet the two leaders on Sunday and Monday respectively.

Lute is on the island to discuss with the two sides the issue of terms of reference for a new round of talks through a form of shuttle diplomacy.

After meeting Akinci on Monday, his spokesman Baris Burcu said the Turkish Cypriot leader, and the UN envoy had a fruitful meeting during which they discussed in detail the terms of reference.

We had a productive and detailed meeting on the terms of reference. It seems that the preparation of the terms of reference will continue for some more time, he said.

Lute initially asked the leaders to come up with the terms of reference by the end of the year but this is looking less likely, unless the back and forth meetings this week can achieve major progress.
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On Sunday the spokesman to Anastasiades said the meeting between Lute and the president was “creative and productive” both concerning the terms of reference and other critical issues concerning the Cyprus problem.

We are currently in the middle of critical consultations concerning the negotiation and the continuation of the (settlement negotiations on the) Cyprus problem and it would be best to avoid unnecessary comments, he said.

CM