Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 08-04-18

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] WORKING GROUPS - TECHNICAL COMMITTEES - START

[02] UN SC - CYPRUS

[01] WORKING GROUPS - TECHNICAL COMMITTEES - START

Speaking at the ceremony, Acting Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and head of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) Elizabeth Spehar said a few days ago she had expressed hope that the opening of the crossing point in Ledra Street, Nicosia, would be followed by more positive steps, adding that the commencement of work was another one of those markers.

She said the working groups and technical committees were evidence of the commitment of the leaders of the two communities and their constructive attitude to reach a settlement.

Spehar assured that the UN would support them in their work towards a mutually acceptable solution of the Cyprus problem and wished them every success.

She furthermore noted that Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou and Ozdil Nami, adviser to the Turkish Cypriot leader, had set the right foundations for the commencement of work.

Iacovou said the members of the working groups and technical committees have been chosen for their expert knowledge and political and other skills.

He called on them to regard the person opposite them, not with confrontation, but as fellow workers so as to produce results.

Iacovou added that at the end of all this they shall all be proud for their service to the common cause.

Nami said the commencement of work by the working groups and technical committees demonstrated a successful beginning, noting that what was not achieved in 20 months was achieved in 20 days.

He pointed out however that his was the easy part because now efforts will be made to achieve something that was not achieved for 44 years, which is the comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem at the end of the current process.

Furthermore, Nami called on the members of the working groups and technical committees to work as a team.

[02] UN SC - CYPRUS

In a statement adopted during an open session after the Security Council was briefed on the results of meetings in Cyprus by UN Undersecretary General Lynn Pascoe, and was read by South African Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo, the current council president, the Security Council ``warmly welcomes the agreement reached on 21 March 2008 by the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders and commends them for the political leadership they have shown.``

Cyprus Permanent Representative to the UN, Andreas Mavroyiannis said the Government of the Republic welcomes the adoption of the Presidential Statement following the briefing by Lynn Pascoe the USG for Political affairs after his visit to Cyprus and to the region.

Noting that the Security Council expressed its full support to the efforts towards a just and lasting settlement in Cyprus drawing from the existing momentum in the current juncture Mavroyiannis added: We are very happy that the Council has set out very clearly the parameters of the sought after solution and the expectations of the Council from the Mission of Good offices of the Secretary General as well as its readiness to help and assist the Secretary-General and his Mission of Good offices and we welcome this commitment by the Security Council.

In his statement UK Permanent Representative Sir John Sawers said that whole Council has been encouraged by recent developments and by the report that we received back from USG Pascoe from his visit to the region, the Agreement of 21st of March followed by the measure of re-opening the Ledras street crossing that has boosted confidence on all sides.

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