Eide: “We are now in the moment of truth”

Stating that they made a good start to the Cyprus negotiations in Geneva, UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide said, “Now, we are in the final moment. We are now really at the moment of truth. My very strong sense is that this is going to be difficult and it is possible.”

During the press conference held at the UN Geneva Office, Eide said that the negotiations have started as planned.

Eide also noted that significant progress has been made on five important chapters – economy, the EU, property, administration and power sharing, territory, security and guarantees – during the last 19 months of negotiations.

Eide stated that an international conference will be held on 12 January, at the end of the negotiations, with the participation of the guarantor countries Turkey, Greece and the UK as well as both sides’ delegations, while the European Union will participate in the conference in a “special observer role”.

Eide also highlighted that South Cyprus is an EU member and the EU will attend the conference not in a decision-making role but in a “supportive role.”