Cyprus: Clerides and Denktash agree to new schedule of talks

Glafcos Clerides, the Greek Cypriot leader, and Rauf Denktash, the Turkish Cypriot leader, have agreed to a new schedule of talks, a United Nations spokesman announced today.

Meeting in Nicosia, Mr. Clerides and Mr. Denktash reviewed the pace of their work so far and “decided that it would be more effective to have longer meetings with more time in between, so as to concentrate efforts and allow more time for preparation,” spokesman Fred Eckhard told reporters in New York. “Accordingly, as of 1 March, they will be meeting on Tuesday afternoons and Friday mornings, except as otherwise agreed.”

The two leaders will meet again tomorrow as earlier planned and have another meeting on Tuesday, 19 February before breaking “in light of the Bayram (Id Muslim Holiday) and for a brief reflection period,” according to Mr. Eckhard.

During the break, Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, will travel to New York to report to the Secretary-General and brief members of the Security Council, the spokesman reported. “Talks will resume on Friday, 1 March,” said Mr. Eckhard.