The prospects of having an international conference on the Cyprus problem are not favourable, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said here on Saturday, adding that the issue of changing the UN-led current process of negotiations, aiming at a settlement of the Cyprus problem, has not been brought up either by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon or his Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer, during a meeting the latter had on Friday with Cyprus President Demetris Christofias.
Stephanou (Photo below) said it was obvious that the problems which remain to be solved are not the result of the process which is followed or of the agreed basis for a settlement, but of the Turkish side`s position.
He called on the Turkish side to abandon its delaying tactics and cooperate with the Greek Cypriot side, on the basis of UN resolutions, with a view to have progress on the Cyprus problem and be able to achieve a settlement.
Stephanou also said that President Christofias has assured UN Secretary General of his readiness to continue to negotiate during the period in which Cyprus will hold the EU rotating Presidency, at the second half of 2012, in consistence to the agreed basis for achieving a solution providing for a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, as provide by the UN relevant resolutions and in the framework of the process agreed.
The Spokesman noted that there are many difficulties and problems in the negotiations for a Cyprus settlement due to the negative and delaying tactics of the Turkish side.
He recalled that the process provides for a mutually agreed settlement that will be a result of negotiations between the two sides, under the UN auspices, without arbitration and blackmailing dilemmas