The UNSG’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide, making statements to the press following his meeting on Wednesday with TRNC President Dervis Eroglu has said that “both leaders have reconfirmed their strong commitments to move towards a solution”, ‘Famagusta Gazette’ reports.
Eide who had met with South Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades earlier said that he would be talking to Ankara regarding the issue of giving notice to mariners regarding the binding of areas within the South Cyprus EEZ, a move which prompted President Anastasiades to temporarily drop out of the UN-led negotiations.
He said that both leaders strongly believe that there can be a solution to the Cyprus Problem and added that some of the substantive issues further convince him that a solution could be found fairly soon, in view of the fact that there are talks and that there is a certain level of trust.
Eide said he was encouraging both leaders to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible.
“Because my sense is that if we start talking, as we were planning, we will actually see rapid progress on this substance. But then we have to get back to the table and we are trying to explore ways to get back to the table,” he noted.
He reminded both leaders that they had said that the status quo was unacceptable and added that “if and when there will be a united Cyprus with a negotiated solution, bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality then oil and gas discoveries will be a blessing for all Cypriots.”
“If we are not getting there, it will probably be a curse for both Cypriots because it will create more tension,” he said.
He added that it was his ambition to carry on developing bridging proposals and that he would continue to discuss them with both sides until they are ready to return to the table, when the UN would have more ideas to share with both sides.
