Özgürgün: “Negotiations remained inconclusive due to the “wanting everything” attitude of the Greek Cypriot side
24 November, 2016Akıncı had a telephone conversation with Biden and Ban
24 November, 2016Noting the “best efforts” of the leaders at the United Nations-brokered talks held recently in Switzerland, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged them to continue their efforts in line with their shared commitment to do their utmost in order to reach a settlement in 2016.
After being updated by his Special Adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, about the outcome of the talks that took place between President Mustafa Akıncı, and the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades, in Mont Pèlerin, Switzerland, on 7-11 November and 20-21 November the UN Secretary General Ban has made a written statement setting out his views.
In the statement the Secretary-General made clear that he shared the disappointment of the two leaders who had hoped that the meetings in Mont Pèlerin would pave the way for the final phase of the talks.
The Secretary-General encouraged President Akıncı and Greek Cypriot leader Anastasiades to do their utmost to overcome this particular hurdle and continue with the promising work that they had undertaken in Mont Pèlerin.
In the statement it is said that the Secretary-General reiterated his full support and the commitment of the United Nations to assist the two leaders in reaching their shared goal, while respecting that the future of Cyprus will be determined by Cypriots, for all Cypriots.
Finally, the Secretary-General also called upon all interested parties, especially the guarantor powers of Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom, to do their utmost to support the leaders during the coming days and weeks, which will be crucial for the negotiations and the future of Cyprus.