A palpable sense of momentum

Lyn Pascoe
The Under Secretary General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe, who arrived in Cyprus on Sunday to determine how the UN can help efforts to reach a settlement in Cyprus said he had “a very good visit”. “There is a very positive tone here in Cyprus at the moment, and a palpable sense of momentum. The two leaders have set their sights on achieving a fair and lasting solution, and I think Cypriots are right to have high expectations”. He said he was encouraged and would report back to the Secretary-General and the Security Council on his return to New York.

He told a press conference at the end of his visit that he hoped that the hard work that he expects would take place in the next three months would lead to talks aimed at settling the problem. He added that he finds there is enthusiasm and good will amongst all the parties involved.

He said he had come to the island mainly in order to find out how best the UN could help the process and that over the past few days he had had talks with very many people as to how they envisage their future together and feels very encouraged by what he hears. He realised that a solution would not be easy and that there were many issues that have been discussed many times some being productive, others leading nowhere. But he stressed that the UN would work on it and said these were things that the leaderships of the two sides could achieve. “It will require a lot of hard work and compromise, but I am confident in the end the two sides, with our help, can succeed”, he said.

Replying to questions he said that the UN was working closely with the EU and others interested in the Cyprus case. He said many previous negotiations and efforts have made clear what the main issues are and where the work needs to be concentrated. He said the main thing was that the gap should be bridged and the main exchanges are found in order to reach a package that both sides can support. He said that was their aim and what they will continue to work towards.
Asked about his efforts towards Turkey, Mr Pascoe said he had spoken with all the interested countries and all are enthusiastic to see progress and are showing good will. He said he would also be travelling to Athens, Ankara and Europe and would do all he could to promoted a settlement.

While in Cyprus, Mr Pascoe held separate meetings with the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, held talks with civil society representatives, with Greek and Turkish Cypriot political party leaders and also met with the advisers of the two leaders who are preparing the ground for full-fledged negotiations later this year, as well as with representatives of the international community in Nicosia.

Spokesman
President Christofias is flying to London on Thursday to attend a conference organised by Britain’s Labour Party and the Prime Minister Mr Gordon Brown, on progressive governance. While in the British capital Christofias will address a gathering of overseas Cypriots on Saturday returning to Cyprus on Sunday. The Government Spokesman said that he would be meeting the Prime Minister on the sidelines of the summit but clarified that this was not the official visit to Britain.

The Spokesman also announced the Ledra Street will be opening tomorrow morning at 9am.

European Court of Human Rights
The Cyprus Mail reports that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has endorsed a friendly settlement between Turkey and Mike Tymvios, a Greek Cypriot who swapped land with a Turkish Cypriot through the property commission in the north. “This means the friendly settlement has to be applied and Mr Tymvios will receive $1 million in compensation and land in Larnaca,” said Tymvios’ lawyer. Lawyer Achilleas Demetriades, who has a number of Greek Cypriot refugee cases pending before the ECHR, said he did not see any implications for existing cases.The previous government had tried hard to block this settlement from happening. Bankruptcy had led Tymvios to resort to the property commission when the government refused to accept property he had in the north as collateral for a loan. He was told repeatedly it was worthless as far as his estate was concerned.