Efforts to continue UN-led peace talks continue as Espen Barth Eide arrives in Cyprus
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Efforts to continue the UN-led peace talks on Cyprus continue next week, with the focal point being the return to the island of the UN Secretary General`s Special Advisor on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide, who arrives on Sunday.
British and US officials will also be visiting Cyprus in the coming days.
On Monday morning Eide will be received by President Nicos Anastasiades and later on he will have a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci. The two leaders have been engaged in negotiations since May 2015, under UN aegis. The latest round of intensive talks, at Mont Pelerin, ended inconclusively on Tuesday.
Since then both leaders have said they wish to resume the dialogue to find a negotiated settlement to reunite Cyprus, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.
Eide is likely to have separate meetings with the leader of the ruling Democratic Rally DISY party Averof Neofytou and the General Secretary of the main opposition party AKEL Andros Kyprianou.
He may also meet with British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, though this has not been confirmed yet. Johnson is set to have talks at the Foreign Ministry not only on the Cyprus question but also on Brexit and other issues of mutual interest.
Eide, who has not set a date for his departure as this would depend on the outcome of his contacts here, will probably talk to the leader of the Turkish Cypriot Republican party too, according to well informed sources.
Meanwhile, no meetings have been set for next week between the negotiators of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot sides Andreas Mavroyiannis and Ozdil Nami.
In another development, US Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Euroasian Affairs Jonathan Cohen, who will be in Cyprus next week, will have a meeting with Mavroyiannis. Cohen, appointed to this post in August this year, will also have contacts with Foreign Ministry officials.
CNA – Maria Myles – CYPRUS/Nicosia 26/11/2016 15:54