Cyprus Talks Yesterday

President of the Republic Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu discussed on Tuesday the Property issue, during the UN-led direct talks to solve the Cyprus problem.

Speaking to the press after the meeting, the UN Secretary General`s Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer said that the community leaders brought along a series of proposals on property issue, which will be discussed amongst the negotiating teams this afternoon. He also announced that the UN “property people” will be meeting with the negotiating teams in separate meetings on Wednesday and that leaders will resume their talks on Thursday, September 8.

“The two teams will be meeting this afternoon to analyze in a great deal more detail the specifics that were put forward today, without going into the specifics, because we’ve agreed we won’t do that, there is a quite a lot to think about here and to work through. I think some convergences can be built actually, myself, I think that’s possible”, Downer said.

Downer said that the meeting was held in a good atmosphere, underlying that “this is an example of both sides continuing to work hard to try to build convergences”.

He also told the press that on Wednesday he will be briefing the Security Council in an informal session -via video link-on how the talks are going and then he will deal with any issues that they themselves (SC members) may wish to raise.

“I want to keep the Security Council informed so that they understand how we are getting on in the talks, what the difficulties are, what the problems are, and where the progress is being made”, he said, noting that “ultimately the Security Council wants to know whether it’s possible for the two sides to fulfill what the Security Council requires of them, which is to negotiate successfully a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation”.

The UN Special Adviser also referred to the meeting he had with Greek FM on Monday. He said that Cyprus problem and broader regional issues were discussed.
“Obviously, it really is important to us from time to time to meet with the Guarantor powers, and particularly with the Turks and the Greeks; so I do that from time to time”, he said.

Replying to a question about President Christofias leaving early today, Downer said that he skipped lunch and that his negotiating team stayed behind.

”The two teams stayed here just for lunch. We have just been having lunch. The meeting itself had finished”, he concluded.