UN envoy cautions rush on Cyprus deal
Güncelleme Tarihi:
The Associated Press
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 14, 2009 00:00
NICOSIA - A United Nations official said Friday there would be no point in rushing negotiations to reunify Cyprus if the agreement could unravel.
U.N. Cyprus envoy Alexander Downer said a deal must be reached "that will hold in place for the duration." Cyprus President Dimitris Christofias, a Greek Cypriot, and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have been negotiating for six months. Cyprus was divided into a breakaway Turkish Cypriot north and an internationally recognized Greek Cypriot south in 1974, when Turkey invaded in response to a coup by supporters of union with Greece.
Downer said the leaders of the island's rival Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities are committed to the process. But he urged patience because of the complexity of the issues, which include power-sharing, property arrangements and security guarantees. "When you're dealing with complex issues you're of course dealing with problems that go back decades. It's not surprising it's a painstaking process," Downer said.
Talat has suggested talks need to conclude by early 2010, when he faces elections. Christofias has rejected calls for a deadline to avoid Greek Cypriot rejection of a deal perceived as rushed. Greek Cypriots turned down a U.N.-drafted reunification plan in a 2004 referendum. Turkish Cypriots had approved it.
Downer said the leaders of the island's rival Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities are committed to the process. But he urged patience because of the complexity of the issues, which include power-sharing, property arrangements and security guarantees. "When you're dealing with complex issues you're of course dealing with problems that go back decades. It's not surprising it's a painstaking process," Downer said.
Talat has suggested talks need to conclude by early 2010, when he faces elections. Christofias has rejected calls for a deadline to avoid Greek Cypriot rejection of a deal perceived as rushed. Greek Cypriots turned down a U.N.-drafted reunification plan in a 2004 referendum. Turkish Cypriots had approved it.