Secretary-General Welcomes Resumption of Cyprus Reunification Talks
24/03/2008
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has congratulated the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders on their agreement to reopen talks aimed at reuniting the island.
Demetris Christofias, and Mehmet Ali Talat, reached the agreement on Friday in a meeting hosted by the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Michael Møller. Mr. Ban's spokesperson Michele Montas read out his statement issued in New York.
"He warmly welcomes the leaders' decisions to expeditiously set up a number of working groups and technical committees, and to meet again in three months' time to review their work and start full-fledged negotiations under UN auspices."
The Secretary-General also welcomed the plan to open a crossing in Nicosia's Ledra Street, as soon as possible, as a confidence-building first step. A UN mission to Cyprus later this month will determine how the UN can assist the reunification process, which has been stalled since 2004, when Greek Cypriots rejected in a referendum a UN-sponsored plan.
Demetris Christofias, and Mehmet Ali Talat, reached the agreement on Friday in a meeting hosted by the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Michael Møller. Mr. Ban's spokesperson Michele Montas read out his statement issued in New York.
"He warmly welcomes the leaders' decisions to expeditiously set up a number of working groups and technical committees, and to meet again in three months' time to review their work and start full-fledged negotiations under UN auspices."
The Secretary-General also welcomed the plan to open a crossing in Nicosia's Ledra Street, as soon as possible, as a confidence-building first step. A UN mission to Cyprus later this month will determine how the UN can assist the reunification process, which has been stalled since 2004, when Greek Cypriots rejected in a referendum a UN-sponsored plan.
http://www.un.org/radio/detail/9141.html