Statement Attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General

The Secretary-General takes this opportunity to restate his position, which is that his plan for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem remains on the table but that he does not propose to take a new initiative without solid reason to believe that the political will necessary for a successful outcome exists.

The Secretary-General hopes that the Turkish Cypriot side –and indeed all parties –will soon be in a position to make the necessary commitment so that a reunited Cyprus may accede to the European Union on 1 May 2004.