Intensive talks begin

The leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities yesterday began their first round of intensive talks with a nine-hour meeting where they exchanged views on governance and continued today with a further marathon session during which Mr Christofias submitted a document with the Greek Cypriot views.

“Let us hope that at the end of the day we will have more convergences”, he said. “We exchanged views freely on the various aspects of governance, without having any document as a basis; I want to make this clear”. He was referring to the proposals submitted by the Turkish side, outlining its positions regarding governance and power-sharing.

He continued: "Of course, we have both reached an understanding that nothing is agreed or will be agreed unless everything is agreed. There was a discussion that indicates that we will continue the discussion. Without being able to go into any details at this moment, we will submit our view in writing, which I have analysed verbally today, and we will continue the discussion”.

This phase of the talks continues tomorrow and Wednesday before a week’s break, during which Mr Christofias will visit Greece. The process has been overshadowed by the universal rejection of the Turkish proposals, which the Greek Cypriot side said smacked of confederation .“We are not starting with the best of omens,” said government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou yesterday.He said Christofias planned to clarify the Greek Cypriot side’s approach on the Turkish Cypriot proposals and indicate the targets of the intensive negotiations.

Meanwhile the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon yesterday said he was “reasonably encouraged" by the recent process of negotiations on Cyprus.

Speaking to the press after briefing the UN General Assembly yesterday on the priorities of the UN for 2010, he said he has been urging both leaders that this is a time for them to make decisions on the basis of flexibility and compromise.

"As you may know, recently I have spoken with leaders of both communities – the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriots – and I have spoken with leaders of other countries, including Turkey. I sincerely hope that they will make significant progress. In fact they have been meeting sixty times with the help of my Special Adviser, Alexander Downer.

They have discussed all remaining issues, and now they are zeroing in, focusing their negotiations on critically important issues. I sincerely hope that during the two rounds of negotiations this month, they will be able to agree on these longstanding issues. As Secretary-General I have expressed my firm commitment and willingness and readiness to engage myself whenever the time is appropriate”.