New York - The UN Security Council praised Greek and Turkish
Cypriots on Friday for making progress in their negotiations and
urged them to move forward to end the division on the Mediterranean
island.
The council extended the mandate of its peacekeeping mission until
December 15, which is manning a ceasefire line separating Turkish
Cypriots in the north and Greek Cypriots in the south.
UN-led negotiations, conducted by former Australian Foreign
Minister Alexander Downer, have made advances in closing decades of
differences between the two communities. The talks in Nicosia have
become full-fledged and the UN said prospects for further progress
are expected for a comprehensive solution for a sharing of power by
the two sides.
The council urged the two sides 'to fully exploit the opportunity,
including intensifying the momentum of negotiations, improving the
current atmosphere or trust and goodwill, and engaging in the process
of a comprehensive and open manner.'
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said there is now an 'excellent
personal chemistry' between leaders of the two communities, who have
taken full responsibility over the negotiating process.
Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot
leader Mehmed Ali Talat have held face-to-face talks in the past six
months to try to overcome major obstacles for a power-sharing
government.
USA
Your Talkback on this Story