United Nations, Espen Barth Eide : "There is no time to waste to achieve a Cyprus settlement"

There is no time to waste if the two community leaders want to reach their target for a Cyprus settlement within 2016, UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide has said.

Speaking to the press after a two hour meeting with President Mustafa Akinci recently, Eide said that he had a good meeting with Akinci on important issues. Noting that he predicts there will be six meetings between the leaders in July on substantial issues, Eide added that at this stage, issues that have already been discussed by the negotiators are being discussed now in-depth by the leaders.

Noting that the leaders have made progress in the negotiations, Eide said that the months of July, August and September should be utilised well. Underlining that there are no time limitations being imposed by the UN, however, Eide added that the two leaders set a target for “reaching a solution within 2016”. He further said that he thinks that they are working towards this target and they are working well, adding: “Constructive ideas are being produced by both sides”.

Eide explained that he cannot give information regarding the issues in the negotiations because the negotiation is a process carried out by the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot leaders, adding that the leaders may make an announcement regarding the core issues.

Credit: Vatan