Discussions seem to be proceeding well, says Dujarric

The discussions seem to be proceeding well and the Secretary-General very much looks forward for a comprehensive agreement that would lead to a deal with all the outstanding issues regarding to Cyprus, said Thursday the representative of the Secretary General, Stéphane Dujarric.He was replying to a question what SG intends to do so as to urge Turkey to withdraw its troops and to facilitate the negotiation process.

“The Cyprus talks is led by Mr. Eide, the Secretary-General’s envoy on the issue. I think the discussions are proceeding. They seem to be proceeding well and the Secretary-General very much looks forward for a comprehensive agreement that would lead to a deal with all the outstanding issues regarding to Cyprus”, he noted.

Asked about whether the UN Secretary General shows the same sensitivity for Cyprus` refugees, as with the Syrian refugees in regard with statements made in Germany, Dujarric said the General Secretary welcomed Ms. Merkel’s courage stance on refugees.

That does not mean, he said, that we don’t fully appreciate what Greece, the Greek people and the Greek government had being doing in welcoming and in dealing with this humongous influx of refugees and migrants on their shores.

“With the situation in Greece being made much more complicated, much worse with the closure of the Balkans route, and that’s why the Secretary-General since the beginning has been calling for a comprehensive solution to this. One that takes into account obviously the needs of the receiving countries, the needs of the transit countries, the needs of the countries from which the refugees and the migrants are coming from and most of all puts the dignity and human rights of these people who are on the move at the center of the solution”, he added.

Asked about a letter sent by the Greek-Cypriot representative to the Secretary-General to put his protest to a project to bring water to the island and while the peace talks are proceeding well, Dujarric said that “I don’t doubt the veracity the letter has been sent”.

“Obviously all the letters are being answered. I haven’t seen the letter. Let me take a look at the letter and I will respond”, he concluded.