The Security Council of the United Nations has urged the sides to agree terms of reference as a basis for meaningful results-oriented negotiations for the Cyprus problem, mindful of the natural window of opportunity presented by the current electoral cycle. SC also emphasized the need to avoid actions that damage the chances of success.

The SC on Thursday last week was briefed by Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs on SG`s report on his good offices in Cyprus during a closed session followed by a statement read to the press by the Permanent Representative of Indonesia, Ambassador Dian Triansyah Djani who is the SC`s President.

According to the statement, the members of the Security Council welcomed the Secretary-General’s latest report and his decision to ask Ms. Lute to continue her consultations and emphasized the urgent need for a settlement, which would be overwhelmingly in the security and economic interests of all Cypriots and the region.

They urged the sides to agree terms of reference as a basis for meaningful results-oriented negotiations, mindful of the natural window of opportunity presented by the current electoral cycle. The members of the Security Council encouraged the leaders of the two communities to prepare for a settlement through positive public messages on convergences and the way ahead”, the statement reads.

The members of the Security Council also emphasized the need to avoid actions that damage the chances of success and urged the implementation and further development of confidence building measure and looked forward to receiving further updates on the progress of Ms. Lute’s discussions with the parties.

A diplomatic source who spoke to CNA`s correspondent said that the statement on the need to avoid actions that damage the chances of success comes as SC`s respond to Ankara`s decision to send a research energy vessel in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Turkey is conducting seismic surveys in the Mediterranean Sea, in an area where Cyprus is drilling for hydrocarbons.

(Cyprus News Agency)