- Title: U.N. envoy says a Cyprus peace deal is difficult, but not impossible
- Date: 9th January 2017
- Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (JANUARY 9, 2017) (REUTERS) **** WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **** UNITED NATIONS BUILDING UNITED NATIONS LOGO GREEK CYPRIOT LEADER, NICOS ANASTASIADES (PARTIALLY COVERED BY OTHER PEOPLE), RIDING CAR DURING BREAK IN TALKS GREEK CYPRIOT DELEGATION'S CONVOY LEAVING SECURITY STANDING OUTSIDE BUILDING TURKISH CYPRIOT LEADER, MUSTAFA AKINCI (IN SCARF) LEAVING BY CAR DURING BREAK CAMERAMAN TURKISH CYPRIOT DELEGATION'S CONVOY LEAVING SPECIAL ADVISOR OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON CYPRUS, ESPEN BARTH EIDE, ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPECIAL ADVISER OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON CYPRUS, ESPEN BARTH EIDE, SAYING: "This is going to be difficult and it's possible. It's going to be difficult because obviously even if the majority of issues have been solved in all chapters, it's not the easiest questions that we have left 'til the end. As normal, it is some of the most complicated or most emotional issues that we have left to the end. And this is the nature of this kind of talks." VARIOUS OF JOURNALISTS WORKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPECIAL ADVISER OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON CYPRUS, ESPEN BARTH EIDE, SAYING: "I will plead for some respect for the leaders who are showing a lot of courage, a lot of will, leadership and trust in each other, that even if they want a solution it's not, it's not easy to make these final agreements that they are trying to achieve over these next coming days. But it's also possible because I don't know any issue in these negotiations that really cannot be solved if sufficient will is available." JOURNALISTS LISTENING CAMERAMAN FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPECIAL ADVISER OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON CYPRUS, ESPEN BARTH EIDE, SAYING: "We are now in the final moment. We are now really at the moment of truth. This is where we actually will find out if this can be solved. I'm not saying on a specific date. Because it's open-ended in the sense that the conference on the 12th starts. On the 12th we haven't said when it ended, but we are now in a broad sense in this moment of truth and my very strong sense is the following: this is going to be difficult and it's possible." JOURNALISTS WORKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPECIAL ADVISER OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON CYPRUS, ESPEN BARTH EIDE, SAYING: "If it succeeds, I think this is historic for the Cypriots. They have been trying for more than, it was several generations to solve this problem over a divided island. But I also think it would send a very strong signal to a conflicted world and a region in which we see many wars and many things breaking apart, if we could find one place where things just came together." JOURNALIST WORKING EIDE LEAVING ROOM, NEWS CONFERENCE ENDS UNITED NATIONS SIGN
- Embargoed: 24th January 2017 15:40
- Keywords: peace talks Mustafa Akinci Nicos Anastasiades reunification
- Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- City: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
- Country: Switzerland
- Topics: Government/Politics,United Nations
- Reuters ID: LVA0015YD1CUF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A peace deal in Cyprus is difficult but not impossible, senior United Nations envoy Espen Barth Eide said on Monday (January 9) as leaders of the ethnically-split island met for crucial reunification talks in Geneva.
"This is going to be difficult and it's possible. It's going to be difficult because obviously even if the majority of issues have been solved in all chapters, it's not the easiest questions that we have left 'til the end. As normal, it is some of the most complicated or most emotional issues that we have left to the end. And this is the nature of this kind of talks," Eide, who is special adviser of the Secretary-General on Cyprus, told a news conference in Geneva.
Eide, a former Norwegian foreign minister, also said the United Nations would only facilitate, and not arbitrate in talks between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.
The island was split in a Turkish invasion in 1974 triggered by a brief Greek inspired coup.
"I will plead for some respect for the leaders who are showing a lot of courage, a lot of will, leadership and trust in each other, that even if they want a solution it's not, it's not easy to make these final agreements that they are trying to achieve over these next coming days. But it's also possible because I don't know any issue in these negotiations that really cannot be solved if sufficient will is available," Eide said, before adding:
"We are now in the final moment. We are now really at the moment of truth. This is where we actually will find out if this can be solved. I'm not saying on a specific date. Because it's open ended in the sense that the conference on the 12th starts. On the 12th we haven't said when it ended, but we are now in the broad sense in this moment of truth and my very strong sense is the following: this is going to be difficult and it's possible."
Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci are discussing power-sharing, territorial adjustments and security issues as part of reuniting Cyprus under a federal umbrella.
"If it succeeds, I think this is historic for the Cypriots. They have been trying for more than, it was several generations to solve this problem over a divided island. But I also think it would send a very strong signal to a conflicted world and a region in which we see many wars and many things breaking apart, if we could find one place where things just came together," Eide said.
The status of some 30,000 Turkish troops stationed in Cyprus's north is crucial. The Greek side insists they must all be pulled out, while the Turkish side says some must remain.
That issue will dominate discussions between Britain, Turkey and Greece on Thursday. The three are guarantor powers of Cyprus under a 1960 treaty that granted the former colony independence.
Any agreement must be put to separate referendums in the two communities, with diplomats anticipating a vote around June. A previous peace blueprint put to referendum in 2004 was accepted by Turkish Cypriots but rejected by Greek Cypriots. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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