After more than three years of settlement talks, time has come to close all outstanding core issues, President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso has said Friday.

In a statement ahead of the meeting of UNSG Ban Ki-moon with President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu on Saturday and Sunday in New York, President Barroso said that the European Commission expects the meeting “to produce tangible results, paving the way for the final phase of the process“.

“I am following very closely the whole process, I would like to call on both leaders to grasp the opportunity to reach a comprehensive settlement now“, Barroso noted.

He added that the two leaders and the United Nations could continue to count on the European Commission`s full support “for their historic endeavour“.

Barroso also said that all Cypriots and the European Union will benefit from a united Cyprus.