Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on Cyprus

The Secretary-General wrote on 4 February to the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot leaders inviting them to come to New York today to resume negotiations on the basis of his plan. The objective of the negotiations would be to put a completed text to referenda in April 2004, in time for a reunited Cyprus to accede to the European Union on 1 May 2004. I am pleased to inform you that the leaders have arrived in New York pursuant to the Secretary-General's invitation. Delegations of the three guarantor parties are also on hand, as the Secretary General requested.

This afternoon at 4 there will be a meeting of the Greek Cypriot side and the Turkish Cypriot side with the Secretary-General. Prior to that there will be brief separate calls by the leaders on the Secretary-General; at 3.30pm the Greek Cypriot side and at 3.45pm the Turkish Cypriot side.