Cyprus: UN envoy heartened by political will shown by community leaders

The United Nations envoy to Cyprus said today that he was encouraged by the “initiative and commitment” shown by the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders so far during discussions this year on possible reunification.

Taye-Brook Zerihoun, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and the chief of the UN peacekeeping mission to Cyprus (UNFICYP), said the political will displayed by the two leaders “has changed the state of affairs of the status quo up to now.”

Asked by reporters in Nicosia about the discussions – taking place under UN auspices – between Demetrios Christofias (Greek Cypriot) and Mehmet Ali Talat (Turkish Cypriot), Mr. Zerihoun said that while the process was still at a preparatory stage, it was clearly heading towards the stage of formal negotiations.

“I think there is also broad agreement that there is a new environment, conducive to the re-engagement, and a commitment to see the process through for a conflict that has been around for four decades or more… So let’s keep the hope alive and I am certain that the process, the momentum will be kept.”

Earlier this month, Mr. Christofias and Mr. Talat issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to “a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality, as defined by relevant Security Council resolutions.”

This partnership will comprise a federal government with a single international personality, along with a Turkish Cypriot constituent state and a Greek Cypriot constituent state, which will be of equal status.

UNFICYP has been in place on the Mediterranean island since 1964 after the outbreak of violence between the two communities. It is tasked with preventing a recurrence of fighting, contributing to a return to normal conditions and the maintenance of law and order.