Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-06-15

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] UN SECRETARY GENERAL - CYPRUS PROBLEM

[01] UN SECRETARY GENERAL - CYPRUS PROBLEM

Responding to a question by a Turkish journalist during a press conference at the UN headquarters, Annan noted that UN Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari will be sent to the region very soon to visit Cyprus, Greece and Turkey, with a view to take the pulse on whether there is enough movement for the UN to begin to look at what further steps can be taken to move the process forward.

To a comment that the Cyprus problem is still very alive, long-lasting like the soap-operas and if he thinks that this problem might be solved Kofi Annan said: you have to admit that I got closer than most. I got closer than most but we were not able to resolve it. I am still in touch with the parties and I recall my last meeting with Mr. Papadopoulos in Paris where we discussed the need to resume the talks and I pointed out to him that I would want to see more action than words. I would want to see the gap between words and action narrowed a bit more to convince me that the parties are ready to move. In fact, he and Talat, who live very close to each-other, have not even met in about two years and weve been trying to get them to meet.

He said that the situation has been complicated further by the fact that Cyprus is now a member of the European Union and Turkey is seeking to join the EU.

You saw the controversy last week on the question of Turkey expanding the union agreement to cover the ten new members including Cyprus and so when you are negotiating and you have one country sit in the club and the other is seeking to join the club it doesnt make it easier. But quite frankly I think this situation has complicated the process, he said.

Referring to Gambaris visit he said he will go to Cyprus and then to Greece and to Turkey to take the pulse and come back to report to me as to what the situation is, whether there is enough movement for us to begin to look at what further steps we can take to push the parties forward.

For the moment I cannot promise you that I will resolve it between now and end of December but I did get close, the UN SG concluded.

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