Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 12-04-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] Downer to meet UNSG Thursday

[01] Downer to meet UNSG Thursday

Earlier, Downer will meet Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Lynn Pascoe.

Diplomatic sources told CNA that the SG has not yet decided on his next steps on the Cyprus problem and that his final decisions will be made following the meeting with Downer.

The sources did not exclude the possibility of SG having consultations with the permanent members of the Security Council on the matter.

UNSG on Monday discussed the Cyprus issue with the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso and the High Representative of the European Union for foreign affairs and security policy Catherine Ashton.

The also discussed the situation in Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Sudan and South Sudan, Mali, Guinea Bissau and North Korea.

Speaking to the press following the meeting, UNSG said that "the European Union and the United Nations are on the same page, we have the same views and we are mutually committed in working closely in addressing all these regional issues and also global challenges, like sustainable development, including climate change and energy issues and gender empowerment and water and food crisis".

Cyprus, an EU member since 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third.

Peace talks are currently underway to find a negotiated settlement that will reunify the country, under a federal roof.

The leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, President of the Republic Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu met with UNSG in New York last January.

In his statement after the conclusion of the talks, Ban urged the two leaders to make decisive steps towards a final agreement on the Cyprus problem, noting that at this state of the talks, to maintain the momentum and continue negotiations, even in an intensive manner, is not enough.

He said that he would be hearing about the process of the talks from his Special Adviser Alexander Downer and he would decide on the next steps.

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