Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-12-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] UNSG - CYPRUS ISSUE

[02] CHRISTOFIAS - WISHES TO EROGLU - HEALTH

[03] PRESIDENT - CYPRIOT EU PRESIDENCY

[01] UNSG - CYPRUS ISSUE

We will seek progress on many of the longer-term challenges including peace and security in the Korean Peninsula, the Iranian nuclear issue, bringing a stable government to Somalia, and helping to reunify Cyprus, Ban said in his opening remarks during his year-end press conference.

Referring to Cyprus, he said we have worked to increase the momentum in the talks, and I plan to meet leaders next month in Geneva.

He expressed hope that between now and the meeting in Geneva, they will continue to build on common ground as I urged them to do last month here in New York.

Asked what are his expectations ahead of the Geneva meeting and if he considers withdrawing his goodwill mission from Cyprus if the leaders cannot reach a compromise, the UNSG recalled that he held a very good talk on 18 November in his office with the two leaders of both communities.

We were not able to make a significant breakthrough. We know that, while they had been discussing these core issues, they were stuck in property issues. And we were talking about how we can overcome these issues which had been stopped and whether we can change certain approaches in addressing all these core issues, he continued.

He pointed out that he had asked them, for the coming nine weeks, to meet and expedite the process and meet him in Geneva late January, adding that the date has been fixed and he will visit Geneva.

I am encouraged that, since the last week of November, they have been accelerating their negotiations bilaterally and I hope that by the time we meet again trilaterally in Geneva, we will be able to have much more substantive progress on core issues, he went on to add.

Continuing, the UNSG pledged, I will spare no efforts.

I have been speaking with key stakeholders like Turkey, the European Union and Greece. They are all supporting my good offices role and they are also all supporting to see progress in this negotiation, he concluded.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu are currently engaged in UN-led direct negotiations with an aim to reunify the island.

[02] CHRISTOFIAS - WISHES TO EROGLU - HEALTH

According to an official statement, President Christofias contacted by telephone the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu who had some health problems. During their brief conversation, President Christofias wished Mr Eroglu speedy recovery, the statement added.

The two leaders are scheduled to continue their regular meetings on 21 and 28 December in the framework of the UN-led direct negotiation process to solve the Cyprus problem.

[03] PRESIDENT - CYPRIOT EU PRESIDENCY

Speaking during a press conference after the conclusion of the EU Summit held here December 16-17, President Christofias noted that it is most unlikely that there will be a need to activate this mechanism for Cyprus.

`I don`t think that despite any problems Cyprus might face its economy will create such problems to the euro or any dangers for the Eurozone,` Christofias noted, adding that the current situation does not justify any fears towards this direction.

Christofias elaborated on the decision taken by EU leaders concerning the amendment of article 136 of the Lisbon Treaty aiming to enable the establishment of permanent mechanism by member states of the euro area. The target is to safeguard the financial stability of the euro area as whole. Christofias note that this mechanism will be used under certain conditions that will be strictly determined by March 2011 from eurozone member states Finance Ministers.

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