Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (28.03.14) reports that the US Ambassador to Nicosia, John Koenig has said that solution in Cyprus is possible within this or next year. Ambassador Koenig hosted a breakfast for Havadis’ journalists yesterday and replied to their questions.

According to the paper, he, inter alia, said that the Cyprus problem has reached the stage of a solution and that the US President Barrack Obama and Secretary of State, John Kerry are “closely interested” with the solution in Cyprus.
Noting that we are at the verge of the solution, Ambassador Koenig said thatthe Cyprus problem has been discussed for decades and added that“many views are ready that could help the sides in securing convergence on issues they could not agree”. He went on and said that “a strong political will” seems to exist in both sides for doing this and “therefore it is possible to reach a comprehensive solution within this year or perhaps within the next year, but definitely within a period of time relevant to this”.

Asked whether we are heading towards a solution, Koenig said that this depends on the Cypriots, that if there is a will for a solution, something which he believes that exists, the conditions in Cyprus are “very, very appropriate” for the sides reaching a solution. He argued thatTurkey, which is allegedly partner of all Cypriots, both the Greeks and the Turks, offers “extraordinary support” to the Cypriots on this issue. “Many players from outside are trying to help you, but this depends on the Cypriots”, he said.

Referring to the incidents in Limassol during a conference with the participation of the former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, Koenig, who was in the conference room during the attack, said that the climate in the room was more encouraging than the incidents outside the building. He noted that there was not a consensus in the conference room, that different views and approaches as regards the future of the island existed, but Talat and the moderator of the discussion, journalist Kostas Yennaris did a very good job in discussing some views that had the character of a protest or a complaint and in directing the people to concentrate on the future