This period is a period of anticipation and aspiration as regards the visit of the UN Secretary-General’s envoy Mrs. Lute to Cyprus and our region.

It is a waiting period because we must all wait to see what the results of the visit will be; results that will transpire from Mrs. Lute’s contacts and discussions with both sides and involved parties.

It is also a period of aspiration because we wish to see that through these discussions and contacts, it will eventually be apparent whether or not there can be an agreement on the terms of reference and whether this will pave the way for a resumption of the talks, as the UN Secretary-General himself has said so many times. That’s to say, a resumption of talks from the point where they had remained at Crans Montana, negotiation based on the Framework of the UN Secretary-General, so that through the negotiations an attempt will be sought to achieve a solution of the Cyprus problem; a solution that will liberate and reunify the country and the people within the framework of a Bi-zonal, Bi-communal Federation.

That is AKEL’s wish and aspiration. We will wait to see if this aspiration will eventually appear to have reasonable chances of succeeding.