Special Adviser of the Secretary-General for Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, has said that there is no timetable as far as the conclusion of the ongoing peace talks is concerned, which aim at a political settlement in Cyprus, adding that what is important is to find a good solution rather than a hasty one.
In statements following a meeting with the General Secretary of AKEL Andros Kyprianou held today at the Parliament, Eide said that this was a very interesting and productive meeting and there was an exchange of views with Kyprianou, adding that “it`s important for me to have frequent contact with the parliament and political parties”.
He said that discussions between the two leaders are deep into very important issues. “We have had a very constructive round of meetings in November and now we are planning for the December phase. When it comes to the outcome of that phase, I refer to the statement that the leaders made yesterday.”
“We are moving forward in the good direction,” he added.
In reply to a relevant question, he said that “we are trying to reach a working and civilised solution that will give at least two `yes` in the referenda but also it will work over time.”
“There is work left but as the leaders said in the statement yesterday they strongly underline that they feel that through these negotiations an agreement can be found in the near future”, he said, noting that the leaders statement sends out a message.
Asked if there is a time scale on the conclusion of the talks, he said that “there is no timetable, there was none and there is none and we agreed that the most important thing is to have a good solution rather than a hasty solution”.
“The two leaders chose yesterday to say that they think a solution is available through negotiations in the near future”, he said.
Asked about the committee on education which the two leaders decided to set up, he said that once its members are appointed, the committee will start working without any delay. “As the leaders said this is an important issue which has to be tackled in the process towards the reunification of Cyprus,” he added.
Asked to comment on a statement by the Turkish Cypriot leader that a solution should be found before May`s parliamentary elections in the Republic of Cyprus, he said: “I have no comment on that, we need a good solution rather that a hasty solution”.
“The leaders themselves yesterday said that they believe that a solution can be available in the near future and I will leave it to them to define what the near future is”, he concluded.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. UN-led talks, aiming to reunite the island under a federal roof, resumed in May this year.
CNA/GMI/MM/2015
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY