Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-05-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] CYPRUS TALKS - MESSAGE FROM UNSG

[02] PRESIDENT - PEACE TALKS

[01] CYPRUS TALKS - MESSAGE FROM UNSG

UN Secretary Generals Special Adviser Alexander Downer said that the meeting was held in a warm and positive environment. He read a message of UN Secretary General, Ban Ki moon on the resumption of Cyprus talks, which was welcomed by the two leaders and made introductory remarks to each other and they began to discuss the property issue.

They confirmed existing convergences (on the property issue) and they will continue discussing the property issue from where they left off before the talks broke up earlier this year, added Downer.

The two leaders will meet again next Thursday at 10 in the morning. Their two representatives George Iacovou and Kudret Ozersay will meet on Monday afternoon at 14.00 at the specially designed venue at Nicosia airport.

In his message the UN SG warmly welcomes both delegations back to the negotiation table. The parties made strong progress before the talks were suspended in late March. I am very encouraged by the convergences that were reached. Ban Ki moon adds that he is also encouraged that the two leaders have agreed to continue on the basis of the UN parameters, Security Council resolutions and the joint statements made on 23 May and 1 July 2008.

The peace process is at an important point, he stresses in his message, adding that a settlement is within your grasp and this opportunity must be seized, as time is not on your side. Achieving an agreement will require vision, statesmanship and courage. Your communities want and expect a settlement, he underlines. This will require give-and-take on both sides, and the ability to understand the issues and what is at stake from the perspective of the other side.

You must convince not only your own community of the value of a settlement; you must also convince the other community of your good faith. This is not a zero-sum game. It is possible, and indeed necessary, to arrive at a solution that clearly benefits both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, the message said.

The international community is committed to continuing its support for this Cypriot led process, says Ban, adding that he truly believes that both leaders can reach an agreement in the coming months. He expresses his readiness and willingness to help together with his representative Alexander Downer.

[02] PRESIDENT - PEACE TALKS

Invited to say how their first meeting was the President replied in general it was good, adding that they did not speak about all issues. Of course the basis (of the negotiations) was reaffirmed with a statement of the UN Special Representative on the Cyprus problem Alexander Downer, as expressed in the Secretary Generals report, he added.

We welcomed this fact and we began talking on how we will address the issue of properties. We asked the reconfirmation of issues on which convergence was achieved, to whom properties belong and the points of categorization and we are moving forward, he added. Asked if the next chapter to be discussed is that of properties, the President replied affirmatively, pointing out that this was agreed beforehand.

Invited to say if Eroglu has accepted everything agreed between President Christofias and former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, Christofias said that we reconfirmed the convergences achieved so far.

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