Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-02-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] LEADERS CYPRUS TALKS

[02] GREEK FM BRITISH FS CYPRUS

[03] BUTTENHEIM PEACEKEEPERS CYPRUS

[01] LEADERS CYPRUS TALKS

The meeting will take place at the Chief of Missions residence, in the United Nations Protected Area of Nicosia.

The Special Representative of the UN SG Alexander Downer announced after the previous meeting of the two leaders, on February 9th, that President Christofias and Eroglu decided to intensify the process of the direct negotiations over the next few weeks.

As Downer noted, that will involve the leaders meeting once a week, every Wednesday, with the current weeks meeting being an exception for technical reasons.

Downer also said that the representatives of the two leaders will be meeting twice a week in a more intensive format than has been the case in the past as well.

Speaking to the press after last weeks meeting, President Christofias pointed out that it was necessary to reaffirm all that has been agreed on so far, adding that the talks would intensify and that the aides would be meeting twice a week to discuss pending issues.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. President Christofias and Eroglu are currently engaged in UN-led negotiations, with an aim to reunify the island.

[02] GREEK FM BRITISH FS CYPRUS

Droutsas added that the Turkish side is supported by forces that are in the position to influence the UN Secretariat towards a negative direction. He also stressed that a Cyprus solution, based on UN resolutions and the EUs acquis communautaire, would be to the benefit of all countries involved.

In a brief statement before the meeting, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said that Britain, Greece, and the EU as a whole, are putting an effort in solving the Cyprus problem.

[03] BUTTENHEIM PEACEKEEPERS CYPRUS

This was stated by Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Cyprus and UNFICYP Chief of Mission, Lisa Buttenheim, at the UNFICYP Winter Medal Parade which took place Wednesday to pay tribute to the men and women peacekeepers who have contributed their part in the efforts for peace in Cyprus, helping to break down barriers and build new bridges.

Although you - todays medal recipients - will soon leave Cyprus having successfully completed your tours of duty, I trust some of you will return to visit in the future. My hope is that when you do, you arrive in a re-unified federal Cyprus where all Cypriots live in peace and stability, forging a common future together, Buttenheim said.

Referring to the Cyprus problem, she said that progress has been achieved thus far on a number of key issues, however, as underscored by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, much more work needs to be done if a settlement is to be reached.

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