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Speaking on arrival at Larnaca airport, Mr Moses said that he has come to Cyprus with the encouragement of President Clinton to consult with the parties on the island to see if further progress can be made in moving towards a comprehensive settlement.

The United States, he added, remains committed to the UN peace process that began in December in New York, continued in Geneva in February, and will resume in New York in May.

Replying to journalists' questions the US envoy described the Turkish Cypriot leader's presence at the negotiating process as "constructive and encouraging".

Asked if the next round of talks would be more constructive, Mr Moses said that he expected that the parties would be engaging more intensely in the third round. He pointed out that the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides have stated their positions and are now encouraged to bridge the differences. "I would hope in this third round we will be at that stage where there will be meaningful talks that will lead toward a comprehensive settlement, he added.

The US envoy stressed that what is needed is political commitment and a willingness on both sides to compromise. Today, he said the two sides have positions that are different but there is a recognition that what is ultimately in the interest of both sides is a comprehensive settlement on the island.

On the issue of security Mr Moses said he believed that security is "critical" in the negotiations and stressed the need for both parties to "feel secure in their properties, secure in their homes, secure in their persons. That is essential for any settlement, he said.

Commenting on the momentum created by the European Union Summit in Helsinki, Mr Moses warned that the momentum will be lost if there is no comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.

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From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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