The two leaders in Cyprus have agreed to start full-fledged negotiations on the 3rd September under the good offices mission of the UN Secretary-General.

President Mehmet Ali Talat and the Greek Cypriot Leader Demetris Christofias met on 25 July for their forth meeting since the 21st March Agreement.

The two leaders undertook the final review of the work carried out by working groups and technical committees established to prepare the grounds for fully-fledged negotiations.

Reading out the joint statement at the end of the meeting, the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Cyprus Taye-Brook Zerihoun stressed that the aim of full-fledged negotiations is to find a mutually acceptable solution in Cyprus which will safeguard the fundamental and legitimate rights and interests of Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots.

Joint Statement By Turkish Cypriot Leader Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot Leader Demetris Christofias

25 July 2008

Today the Leaders undertook the final review of the work of the Working Groups and Technical Committees. They noted the results achieved and commended their members for all their efforts.

Having made their final review, the Leaders decided to start their full-fledged negotiations on 3 September 2008, under the good offices mission of the United Nations Secretary-General.

The aim of the full-fledged negotiations is to find a mutually acceptable solution to the Cyprus problem, which will safeguard the fundamental and legitimate rights and interests of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The agreed solution will be put to separate simultaneous referanda.

Regarding the Technical Committees, the Leaders today approved sixteen more measures in the areas of environment, cultural heritage, crisis management, crime and criminal matters, and gave instructions for their immediate and full implementation.

As a reflection of their heightened engagement, the Leaders have agreed to establish a secure hotline to facilitate direct contact between them.

The Leaders welcome the appointment of Mr. Alexander Downer as the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser for Cyprus, and look forward to working with him and the UN team in the coming period.

They also instructed their Representatives to take up the issue of Limnitis/Yežilżrmak and other crossings.

 

PRIME MINISTER SOYER “WE REACHED A VERY POSITIVE POINT IN CYPRUS ISSUE”

Speaking to a Television program the TRNC Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer stated that a very positive point was reached in the Cyprus issue and the Turkish side’s patient efforts would continue for achieving a comprehensive settlement.

Explaining that the efforts for reaching a settlement was carried out in line with the 24 April decision of the Turkish Cypriot people, Soyer said the Turkish Cypriot people has never give up their desire for a settlement.

He said “ today we are at the point we desired, the negotiations have started and the UN has appointed its representative”. Prime Minister added that what was more important was to reach a mutually acceptable positive result.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has welcomed the Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders' decision to start comprehensive negotiations in Cyprus.

A UN Spokesman said in a statement that the UN Secretary General was pleased with the progress achieved by the two leaders until now and reiterated UN’s full support for the efforts of finding a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

The statement also reminded that The UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor to Cyprus Alexander Downer will arrive in Cyprus on Sunday (27July) for talks with the two sides.

THE TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY WELCOMED THE DECISION TO START COMPREHENSIVE NEGOTIATIONS IN CYPRUS

The Turkish Foreign Ministry welcomed the decision to start comprehensive negotiations in Cyprus.

In a written statement it said that Turkey has always supported the start of comprehensive talks within the framework of the good offices mission of the UN Secretary General in an effort to reach a settlement on the Cyprus issue based on standing UN parameters such as a bi-zonal state structure, political equality and a new partnership to be formed by two founding states.

The statement underlined that within this understanding Turkey would give full support to the negotiation process.

The statement also expressing Turkey’s hope that the activities of technical committees, which were launched upon the efforts of the Turkish Cypriot Side, would yield positive outcomes, stressed Turkey’s support to their activites directed towards securing an anvironment of trust and cooperation between the two sides.