UN Under-Secretary and Cyprus President discuss ways toward settlement

UN Secretary-General`s Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs Geofrey Feltman and President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades discussed steps forward toward a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.

In a short statement after a meeting with the President, Feltmam said “we just had an excellent meeting to talk about the steps forward toward a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem”.

Accompanied by the Special Representative of the Secretary General in Cyprus and UN Chief of Mission Lisa Buttenheim, Feltman said this was his first trip to Cyprus in his capacity as UN Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs.

The UN official conveyed Ban Ki-moon`s strong support for the joint declaration of 11 February.

“I was able to convey to his Excellency the Secretary General’s strong support of the joint declaration of February 11. And I expressed on behalf of the Secretary General our appreciation to Mr Anastasiades for his leadership and vision in promoting the conclusion of that February document and working with Mr Eroglu toward the achievement of that February 11 declaration,” he told the press.

The United Nations, he added, “remains committed to working with the leaders and the peoples in order to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue.”

Feltman declined to answer questions from the press.

Cyprus was divided in 1974 when Turkey invaded the island and occupied its northern third. UN-backed talks resumed in February this year, following an agreed Joint Declaration between President Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu.

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