Special Assistant to Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Eric Rubin has expressed optimism about the outcome of a meeting Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu will have in New York with the UNSG Ban Ki Moon, scheduled for 30-31 October.
In statements to the Press after a meeting with President Christofias, at the Presidential Palace, Rubin said he had the opportunity to talk with President Christofias “about hopes for a positive outcome in his trip to New York but also about US-Cypriot relations and hope that we can develop them further“.
The US official described his meeting with President Christofias as “very positive, very forward looking“.
“We are very hopeful that we will see some steps forward when the parties meet with the SG in New York“, he noted.
Rubin stressed that “the US is doing everything we can to support (the meeting) and would do everything we can to support the people of Cyprus not just politically but also economically working together to develop our relations and to help with the prosperity of both countries“.
The Republic of Cyprus, an EU member since 2004, has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.
UN-led talks have been ongoing since September 2008 between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof.
President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias said on Wednesday that he could not send a hopeful message regarding talks to solve the Cyprus problem.
Speaking after a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, in the context of direct talks to solve the Cyprus problem, President Christofias expressed hope that on Friday, when the last meeting before the meeting of the leaders of the two communities in New York with the UN Secretary General takes place, he would be able to be more optimistic.
President Christofias said that during Wednesday`s meeting they reviewed the positions of the two sides on core issues, noting that differences remain regarding the executive powers and that the Turkish side has withdrawn from what had been agreed on with former leader of the Turkish Cypriot community Mehmet Ali Talat.
“Our agreement with Mr. Talat led to the full implementation of the four freedoms in the federal Cyprus, with a transitional period in between. In the property chapter, there are also significant differences, as in the EU chapter. We are very close on issues concerning the legislative power,“ he said.
President Christofias expressed hope that the Turkish side would attend the meeting on Friday with revised positions, which would not lead to “two states“, a position that “cannot be accepted by the Greek Cypriot side.“
“So, I am not thrilled today, on the contrary, while we are heading towards New York, the message I can give is not hopeful today. I hope that on Friday I will be able to do so,“ he concluded.
Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. UN-led talks are currently underway in an effort to reunify the island.
