Cyprus: Clerides and Denktash agree to meet three times a week

The Greek Cypriot leader, Glafcos Clerides, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, today began direct talks which resulted in agreement on a future pattern of meetings between them, according to United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Special Adviser on Cyprus, who was present at the discussions.

At the conclusion of today’s 90-minute meeting at the UN Protected Area in Nicosia, Special Adviser Alvaro de Soto told the press that the two leaders had held “a good discussion on the substance.”

Mr. Denktash and Mr. Clerides agreed to establish a pattern of meetings to be held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The first such meeting will take place on 21 January.

Asked for his assessment of today’s talks, Mr. de Soto said, “I thought it was a very encouraging start. They engaged immediately on the substance.” He also characterized the climate as “good and cordial.”