Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-05-19

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] UN CHIEF - INTERVIEW - CYPRUS ISSUE

[02] NATIONAL COUNCIL - MEETING

[01] UN CHIEF - INTERVIEW - CYPRUS ISSUE

In an interview with Anadolu Agency at UN headquarters, in view of his trip to Constantinople to attend an international conference on Somalia from May 21 to 23, Ban said his Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer would be making efforts to facilitate the negotiation process in Cyprus.

He noted that recent statements by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he strongly supported the Cyprus talks added momentum to the negotiations.

Asked if he thought of a timetable for the negotiations in Cyprus or if determining such a timetable would facilitate a solution, Ban said although they did not determine such a target date, this did not mean the talks would continue forever.

"He said that they should definitely have some expectations that the parties could accept a bizonal, bicommunal unification based on political equality at a definite time", according to Anadolu.

The UN chief said he was encouraged by statements made by new Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu that the negotiations would resume.

He also expressed hope that the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus would meet soon to continue the talks, and noted that, as far as he understood, they would meet at the end of May.

Ban said his Special Adviser on Cyprus would be making efforts to facilitate the negotiation process in Cyprus.

The UN chief furthermore said remarks by Erdogan in February that he strongly supported the Cyprus talks added momentum to the negotiations.

Regarding the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots, Ban was reported as saying that negotiations for a Cyprus settlement should be accelerated to find a solution to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots, according to the Anadolu report.

He also said that he knew that Turkish Cypriots were suffering from the blockade and that this problem also included many humanitarian problems, Anadolu said.

I have extended strong support to negotiations and I continue to do so. More than 70 meetings have taken place between the two leaders in the past 18 months. This is an extremely positive development, Ban said, according to Anadolu.

Commenting on Turkey`s role in the Middle East, Ban expressed hope that talks by Turkey between Syria and Israel in 2008 would resume, adding that Turkey`s role in the region was very important.

[02] NATIONAL COUNCIL - MEETING

The meeting is set to start at 1700, at the Presidential Palace, chaired by President Demetris Christofias.

Speaking after the last Council meeting, on 12 May, Governement Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said that President Christofias had outlined his positions on issues and questions concerning the Cyprus problem, raised during previous Council meetings.

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