Ban says two sides close to agreement on joint statement

The two sides in Cyprus are close to concluding a joint communique that would pave the way for the resumption of talks, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said yesterday.

Speaking to the press on the sidelines of a conference on security, in Munich, Ban was asked about a possible resumption of the UN-led peace talks on Cyprus and he said that he continued to work and hope for a prompt resumption of the negotiations in Cyprus, the Cyprus Mail reports.

“My special advisor, Alexander Downer, has been meeting the leaders of the two communities to help agree on a joint communiqué which can provide a good basis and parameters for the negotiations,” he said.

“Unfortunately, these negotiations [were] suspended because of a change of government in the Greek Cypriot community of Cyprus. After that, there was an economic crisis. This kind of a political and economic situation has not been helpful in resuming the negotiations,” said Ban.

Both leaders, he added were “very much committed” to continuing their negotiations, and had agreed to produce a joint communiqué.

“The United Nations, through Alexander Downer, has really been coordinating and helping them. I believe that it is very close. They have agreed on most of the areas. [It is] very close. But this bridge should be filled,” he added.

Ban said he was also talking to guarantor countries like Greece and Turkey. “I met the Turkish leadership, and I am in constant consultations with leaders,” he added.

Politis reports that US Secretary of State John Kerry, in remarks at the Munich conference on security, said yesterday that “We’re working on Cyprus quietly. You’re not hearing about it.”