Security Council Press Statement on Cyprus

 

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Raimonda Murmokaitė ( Lithuania):

The members of the Security Council welcome the joint communiqué that was agreed by the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders on 11 February, and commend them for the political leadership they have shown.

The members of the Security Council are encouraged by the commitment to resume structured negotiations in a results-oriented manner and discuss all unresolved core issues interdependently, and call on the parties to proceed on the basis of the relevant Security Council resolutions, and to continue in a spirit of good faith to reach a solution as soon as possible.

The members of the Security Council express their hope that the leaders will take advantage of this opportunity to reach a comprehensive settlement based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as set out in the relevant Security Council resolutions.

The members of the Security Council reiterate their full support for the process and underline the benefits that reunification will bring to the island.  The members of the Security Council look forward to substantive progress in the negotiations as soon as possible.

The members of the Security Council express deep appreciation at the perseverance and commitment of the Special Adviser, Alexander Downer, since September 2008, and wish him well in his future endeavours.  The members of the Security Council look forward to the continued role of the good offices mission in Cyprus.

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*     Reissued for technical reasons.

For information media • not an official record