UN chief Guterres: Despite progress toward Cyprus solution, much work remains to be done




CRANS MONTANA (ANA/ S. Aravopoulou) United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday urged all sides involved in the Cyprus talks to continue negotiating in a constructive spirit as they have done, in order to take the bold decisions needed to find a common ground.

In a press conference after chairing the second day of the negotiations at a Swiss resort, which focused on the sensitive security and guarantees chapters, Guterres said the leaders at the meeting had responded to significant challenges and made unprecedented progress. While hailing their determination and “shared vision,” he also noted that “much work remains to be done” before a solution was in reach.

All the participants had a responsibility to seize the chance for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue, he said, while expressing his conviction that this was possible given the required determination and political will.

The security and guarantees chapters were vital for achieving a solution, Guterres pointed out, and the discussions in the last few days had “shown there is a commitment to find a mutually acceptable solution” on these chapters. “It is clear that the security of one community must not come at the expense of the other,” he added.

Asked about the progress made, Guterres said there had been “slow progress” at Crans Montana and that “undoubtedly, some sensitive and difficult issues have not been resolved yet.”

“On our part, I can guarantee that we are not impatient and do not threaten the sides in any way,” he added. “We want a result that is positive and viable; we do not want a faulty agreement that will not last,” Guterres explained, stressing that the UN did not set any deadlines for reaching agreement, since this would help create conditions for not solving the problem.

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