Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 09-12-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] UN - DOWNER

[02] CYPRUS - GYMNASIADE - GOLD

[01] UN - DOWNER

In statements after a meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, along with the UN Secretary General`s Special Representative in Cyprus Taye Brook Zerihoun, Downer said there has been growing convergence in the talks over the past couple of months, and that the international community is quite focused on efforts to reach a settlement.

Downer said ``we are cautiously optimistic that an agreement can be reached`` and noted that ``the two leaders are conducting the negotiations in good faith and with good will and they are working through the second reading, the second phase of the negotiations now.``

``It is obviously a very great challenge to reach agreement, there is no doubting that. If it was an easy thing to do, it would have been done long ago. The fact that this matter has not been solved for many years demonstrates the size of the challenge but nevertheless the leaders are working very professionally and with great commitment to finding solutions and they are making steady progress,`` he added.

Replying to questions, Downer said he believed ``good progress has been made`` and pointed out that over the past couple of months ``there has been a good deal of growing convergence.``

He added that the leaders of the two communities ``have made steady progress and it varies from week to week and meeting to meeting,`` noting that ``some meetings are better than others`` and that he remains ``cautiously optimistic.``

To other questions concerning efforts to solve the Cyprus problem, Downer said ``this is a matter for the Cypriots`` and that ``what the international community wants is for Cypriots to reunite and what is interesting is that for the time being the international community is quite focused on this issue.``

``They have an expectation and they have a hope that this time these two leaders, working in the spirit of good will that they are working in, will be able to reach an agreement,`` he said.

Downer said he met with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and some of her officials, and has a constant round of discussions within meetings with ministers of foreign affairs and other senior officials from countries that are interested in the issue.

Replying to questions, Downer said ``there is no doubt that the leaders are very committed to ensuring that the process continues into next year and in intense way, and we look forward into next January and into February to productive and intense meetings.``

Asked when a substantial breakthrough could be expected, Downer said that ``when there is a substantial breakthrough that is when it will be announced.``

``That is a matter for the leaders, not a matter for us. The truth is that this is making steady progress,`` he said, noting that ``there are still significant outstanding issues.``

[02] CYPRUS - GYMNASIADE - GOLD

Meanwhile the Cypriot team in rhythmic gymnastics won the second bronze medal for Cyprus at the games. The team was composed by Christdoulou Katerina, Christou Kyriaki, Raant Polina and Trikomiti Chrystalleni.

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