Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-06-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] SECURITY COUNCIL - UNFICYP

[02] LEADERS - NEW MEETING

[03] PRESIDENT - DOWNER

[04] EMILIOU - UK - MEETINGS

[01] SECURITY COUNCIL - UNFICYP

The wording of the resolution had been agreed on since Thursday, so Monday`s voting and the briefing by the UN Secretary General`s Special Representative in Cyprus Lisa Buttenheim was purely formal.

Buttenheim has told CNA that she had never seen a resolution being adopted before the briefing of the Security Council.

Security Council President Noel Nelson Messone said the resolution was adopted before Buttenheim`s briefing for practical reasons and that the briefing was not linked to the adoption of the resolution.

During the briefing, Buttenheim referred to UNFICYP issues and the mission of good offices, noting that she was happy that the resolution had been adopted unanimously and that the members of the Security Council support UNFICYP and the Secretary General`s good offices.

Buttenheim noted that the forthcoming meeting in Geneva between the UN Secretary General and the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, scheduled for July 7, was important and that the UN team was working hard to make preparations.

All Security Council members that took the podium expressed hope that the Geneva meeting would contribute towards intensifying the process for a Cyprus settlement.

Regarding the demining work in Cyprus, the British representative said there was lack of progress. He also said that there should be a restructuring of UNFICYP, with or without a solution, and pointed out that that the renewal of the mandate every June and December should change, as they were busy months.

[02] LEADERS - NEW MEETING

According to a UN press release, the meeting will begin at 1600 local time (1300 GMT) in the United Nations Protected Area of Nicosia, at the Chief of Mission`s residence.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. The leaders of the two communities are currently engaged in UN-led direct negotiations with an aim to reunify the island.

They are due to meet the UN Secretary General in Geneva on July 7 in an attempt to make headway towards a settlement.

[03] PRESIDENT - DOWNER

Speaking after their previous meeting on June 8, Downer had said that the UN expect from the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, during their meeting with the Secretary General in Geneva on July 7, a clear way forward to concluding the negotiations.

The leaders of the two communities are scheduled to meet on Thursday at the residence of the UN Secretary General`s Special Representative in Cyprus Lisa Buttenheim, in Nicosia, in the framework of direct negotiations to solve the Cyprus problem.

During their meeting on June 1, President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu continued their discussions on police issues and exchanged views on the competences of the Federal Cyprus to sign international treaties.

[04] EMILIOU - UK - MEETINGS

Emiliou briefed the British diplomat on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem and presented the positions of the Greek Cypriot side in view of the July 7 meeting in Geneva.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary reiterated the willingness and commitment of the Greek Cypriot side to achieving a just, viable and functional solution of the Cyprus problem as soon as possible and urged Britain to exert pressure on Ankara in order to adopt a constructive position in the talks on Cyprus.

They also exchanged views on Turkey`s EU accession course. Emiliou stressed that the government of Cyprus supports Turkey`s accession to the EU provided Ankara fulfills its obligations towards the Union, including those relating to Cyprus.

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