Espen Barth Eide, UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus, has said that there are currently a lot of issues which have not been concluded in the negotiations, but the climate in the negotiations is good. In statements yesterday, Eide described as “constructive” the one and a half hour long meeting he had with President Mustafa Akinci. Eide noted that he shares the view that the meeting held between the leaders on Tuesday was “productive”.
Eide argued that contrary to the opinions in some circles, there is no letting up in the negotiations and that the negotiators on both sides are working intensively.
Referring to the meetings he had with the British and the French Foreign Ministers and the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Victoria Nuland, Eide noted that during these contacts he saw that the above-mentioned officials were willing to support the process in Cyprus.
“International interest and support is very strong at this critical turning point. During these contacts more concrete issues were discussed such as economic support”, he added.
Asked what progress was achieved in the negotiations, Eide said that a progress report would be made by the leaders, when they decide that the time is right. He noted that the issues are being discussed in an interrelated manner in the negotiations and expressed the belief that this method would not have been chosen if they did not think that it would have a result. He added that the sides are doing whatever they can to overcome their differences in the talks.
Replying to a question as to whether the issue of the natural gas resources had come onto the agenda of his meetings with the French and the British Foreign Ministers, Eide said: “I have good meetings with key countries and organisations which expressed support for the process. I will discuss this issue with them, but not through the media”.
Vatan
