UN receives responses on Cyprus initiative from both parties

The United Nations today announced that it has received papers from both Cypriot parties in response to the Secretary-General's initiative of 11 November to provide a basis for agreement of the Cyprus problem.

Those responses were received by the end of the day on Thursday, according to UN spokesman Fred Eckhard.

Earlier today in Nicosia, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, met separately with the Greek Cypriot leader, Glafcos Clerides, and with Ergun Olgen, the political advisor of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. de Soto said, "We are entering a new and intensive phase of talks and consultations." He added that during this phase he would not be talking to the media and would ask both leaders to do the same.