The UNSG’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide issued the following statement on behalf of the both Cypriot leaders after their meeting yesterday:
“Determined to keep the pace of their meetings and in line with their joint commitment to a leader-led process, the Greek Cypriot leader, Mr. Nicos Anastasiades, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr. Mustafa Akıncı, met today in a positive and results-oriented atmosphere.
The leaders are now immersed in substantive negotiations.
Their focus is on unresolved core issues. To enable their discussions today, the negotiators provided the leaders with an update on the work they have carried out on a specific set of core issues across the chapters of governance, property and criteria on territory.
Mr. Akıncı and Mr. Anastasiades discussed those issues at length in a pragmatic and constructive manner, making further progress. They provided new guidance to the negotiators, who will meet three more times this week to carry forward their work on core issues.
On the topic of confidence building measures, the leaders continued their exchange. They took stock of the work done to implement already agreed confidence building measures, expressing satisfaction with the progress made to date.
Mr. Anastasiades and Mr. Akıncı expect that practical solutions to any pending issues will soon be found, bringing the implementation of those measures closer to completion.
The leaders exchanged views on the economic prospects that would arise from a solution.
With substantive negotiations now at the centre of their work, Mr. Akıncı and Mr. Anastasiades reiterated their resolve to reach a comprehensive settlement as soon as possible.
Within the positive climate, the leaders will jointly participate in the event that will be co-organized by the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce on 8 July. On the same day, they will also jointly participate in a meeting with religious leaders.”
Both presidents are scheduled to meet again on Friday, 10 July.
Famagusta Gazette
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