UN Secretary General meets with Christofias and Eroglu

The leaders of the two communities in Cyprus have decided to intensify their contacts in the coming weeks in an attempt to overcome the major points of disagreement, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced in New York On Thursday.

Speaking after a meeting with Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, Ban said he will meet again with both leaders in January next year in Geneva.

"We have just had a constructive exchange of views on the core issues, including governance and power-sharing, economy, EU matters, property, territory and security," he said, having thanked the two leaders for traveling to New York for the meeting and having expressed appreciation for their commitment.

Commenting on Thursdays meeting with the two leaders, the UN Secretary General expressed hope that the meeting had helped to restore momentum to the process.

"Both leaders have told me they recognize the need to move more quickly and decisively in order to reach a settlement. Serious differences remain, but both leaders expressed their commitment to work together, as partners, toward that goal," he said.

The leaders agreed to intensify their contacts in the coming weeks in order to establish a practical plan for overcoming the major remaining points of disagreement. We have agreed to meet again at the end of January next year in Geneva, Ban announced.

The leaders will identify further convergences and the core issues which still need to be resolved, across all chapters, according to Ban Ki-moon.

The President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias said late on Thursday he was satisfied with the results of his joint meeting in New York with UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu.

"I am leaving New York very satisfied with the results of this meeting," he said, noting that "there are no timeframes, there is no threat from anywhere, and there is no intention on behalf of the Secretary General to exert pressure."

President Christofias added that "we want a solution of the Cyprus problem, we do not want talks just for the sake of it," noting that "we will do everything possible to break the deadlock and I hope we do."