It would take a miracle for the New York talks to succeed, President Christofias said in London en route to the Greentree meetings with the UN Secretary-General, the latest effort to solve the Cyprus problem.
Speaking at a meeting with Turkish Cypriots in London, Christofias was pessimistic as to the prospects for the meeting.
He said serious differences between the two sides persisted and no real negotiations were taking place. “We don’t negotiate in fact,” Christofias said. “I don’t believe in miracles but anyway, maybe a miracle will happen at Greentree Two … I hope so.”
He said that Turkish Cypriot leader Dervish Eroglu had reneged on his pledge to continue the talks from the point they had left off with his predecessor Mehmet Ali Talat.
Upon arrival in New York later, Christofias said there was no chance of the Greek Cypriot side agreeing to an international conference without prior agreement on the basic aspects of the Cyprus problem.
He rejected Turkish Cypriot charges that Greek Cypriots were stalling, adding that the way will open if the Turkish side showed good will and honoured what had been agreed.
The UN Secretary-General is looking forward to a productive meeting with the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, the UN said last night.
The meetings at Greentree will be held on Monday and Tuesday,
the second meeting between the two leaders and the UN chief there and the fifth time that the Secretary-General is meeting with Mr. Christofias and Mr. Eroglu in the framework of the Cyprus negotiations.
“The United Nations is providing all possible support to these Cypriot-led negotiations. The Secretary-General looks forward to a productive meeting and concrete progress,” the spokesperson added.
Ban has conveyed his expectations to the leaders for a resolution of the issue. “He believes that with political will and firm commitment the two leaders can and should reach a much-needed settlement on Cyprus”, the spokesperson concluded.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso called on the two Cypriot leaders to show the necessary political will and use the opportunity at the forthcoming Greentree meeting for the reunification of Cyprus.
“I share the assessment of the Secretary-General that a window of opportunity currently exists and that an agreement is possible,” Barroso said.
He further said that the two leaders and the United Nations could continue to count on the European Commission's full support.
“All Cypriots, the European Union and the entire region will benefit from a united Cyprus,” Barroso said.
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