The UN aims at “a good outcome” on three outstanding core issues – governance, citizenship and property – at a meeting later this month in New York, between the UN Secretary General and the leaders of the island’s two communities.

The UN also believes that there cannot be a conclusion of the ongoing Cyprus peace process without an international conference, with the participation of the three guarantor powers of Cyprus’ independence, namely Greece, Turkey and Britain. In an interview with CNA, ahead of the meeting on 23-24 January 2012 at Greentree, New York, UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor on Cyprus Alexander Downer said it is possible to clinch an agreement on outstanding core issues if there is “political will” and a spirit for compromise, which he believes both leaders, Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, have and display at the negotiating table.

“The meeting at Greentree will be either a success or a failure,” Downer said, rejecting expressions such as “make or break” with regard to the peace process. Downer said the two leaders will need to fix three “real issues”, namely the election of a rotating presidency and vice presidency, agreement on who will get citizenship of the United Cyprus Republic and conclusion of property concerns, in conjunction with territorial adjustments.