Security the focus of latest round of UN-backed talks between Cypriot leaders

Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders held another round of United Nations-backed talks today, discussing security and guarantees as part of their efforts to try to reach a solution that will unify the Mediterranean island.

Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat met in Nicosia and made introductory statements on the issue of security and guarantees, according to Tayé-Brook Zerihoun, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and the head of the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus (known as UNFICYP).

The two leaders agreed to devote their next meeting, scheduled for 17 July, to the same issue, Mr. Zerihoun told journalists after today’s round of talks.

On Tuesday Mr. Zerihoun told a panel discussion in Nicosia on the role of civil society that it was not possible to speak of a single “Cypriot civil society” given the continuing division of the island.

But he said the civil societies on both sides of the divide “have persevered in their commitment to work together to foster trust and understanding between the communities and help achieve peace and reconciliation. Indeed, civil society groups have at various times in the past few decades provided the only channels for communication and contact between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

“Today, happily, we face a different situation: there is a reinvigorated peace process, bi-communal contact is no longer the exception and it has become much easier for Cypriots today to move around the island.”

Mr. Zerihoun said that hopes for a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus remain low among the public on both sides, and therefore civil society has a valuable role to play to ensuring the success of the peace process.

“Civil society organizations can help communicate to people on both sides the potential benefits of a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem. And once, as we all hope and expect, a settlement is achieved, active participation of civil society groups will be essential to making it sustainable.”