ZERIHOUN: “THE ATMOSPHERE IS POSITIVE”
The UN Secretary General’s Special Representative to
Cyprus and UNFICYP Chief of Mission Taye-Brook Zerihoun stated that he is
encouraged by the initiatives and commitment put forward by the two leaders
on the island towards starting comprehensive negotiations aimed at finding a
solution to the Cyprus problem.
Speaking after an event marking the 60th
Anniversary of UN Peacekeepers’ Day, Taye Brook Zerihoun said that it was
the UN’s view there has been appreciable movement forward in the current
process which started on the 21st of March when the two leaders
met for the first time since Demetris Christofias assumed the leadership of
the Greek Cypriot administration.
The UN Special Representative also said that it was up to
the leaders to determine if it is realistic for reunification talks to begin
next month.
“I think the leaders will be the ones to determine the
degree to which this is realistic or not. We are encouraged and I think the
Secretary General and the Security Council has said this, we are encouraged
by the initiatives and the commitment the two leaders have shown. I think
there is broad agreement that there is a new environment, conducive to the
re-engagement and to a commitment to see this process through for a conflict
that has been around for four decades or more, I think that a month here and
a month there, should not be an issue”, he remarked.
Replying to questions, Zerihoun said that “this is the
leaders’ process and that the UN was ready to help and encourage them in any
way possible.
“I think this is a preparatory process. Indeed the two
sides and the two leaders are precisely discussing and defining the
parameters for re-engaging in talks. So I think we are early in the process,
but clearly, these are the objectives to which we are moving”, he added.
