
Cyprus
Conference is expected to reconvene in Geneva in the 2nd half of June.
Following
the meeting of the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
with H.E. Mr. Nicos Anastasiades, Greek Cypriot leader; and H.E. Mr.
Mustafa Akıncı, Turkish Cypriot leader, in New York, on 4 June 2017,
the leaders agreed on the need to reconvene the Conference on Cyprus in
the second half of June. The Special Adviser of the Secretary-General,
Mr. Espen [Barth] Eide, will engage with all participants in the
preparation of a common document to guide the discussions on security
and guarantees, while the leaders will continue in parallel the
bi-communal negotiations in Geneva on all other outstanding issues,
starting with territory, property and governance and
power-sharing” said the Secretary General in his statement made
following his meeting with the two leaders. The Secretary-General will
reach out to Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom and the European
Union as an observer in order to set a date.
Commenting on the developments, KTTO President Fikri Toros said that he
was very glad with the decision of reconvening the Cyprus Conference in
Geneva soon.
Having gained substantial progress since May 2015, and being so close
to a negotiated deal, failure to resume the Conference aimed at a
comprehensive agreement would have been a grave mistake he
stated. “Not to mention the alarming consequences, which
will escalate the tension, pronounce the division further and close
this "unique window of opportunity" he added. Referring to the
significant economic benefits a comprehensive settlement would bring,
he said “The
settlement would unlock the potential of many sectors of the economy,
benefiting from synergies and economies of scale, and create a greater
stability which will attract the much-needed foreign investment to the
island, stimulating sustainable growth and employment”.
“The settlement however will only be achieved if the
two leaders and the guarantor powers involved demonstrate the necessary
political will through mutual and simultaneous compromise on all
divergencies.” he emphasized. “Thus our
expectation from the parties is to show empathy towards each
other’s concerns and make the necessary compromises for the
greater common good of our Island” he concluded.. READ
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