The people of Cyprus are particularly indebted to Boutros Boutros Ghali for his avid keenness to resolve the Cyprus problem, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides wrote in the book of condolences which opened at the Embassy of Egypt in Nicosia, after the death of the former UN Secretary General.
“On behalf of the President of the Republic and the government of Cyprus I signed the book of condolences for the death of the former UN Secretary General and former Deputy Foreign Minister of Egypt,” Kasoulides said in statements after signing the book, expressing condolences for Boutros Ghali`s death.
He recalled Boutros Ghali`s role for Cyprus as a capable Egyptian diplomat and the role he played during his term in office as the UN Secretary General with his tireless efforts to promote the settlement of the Cyprus problem.
Kasoulides said that during that period, Boutros Ghali had issued his “historic report” to the Security Council, in which he referred for the fist time to the fact that the process regarding the Cyprus problem is not proceeding due to the intransigence of the Turkish Cypriot side, led at the time by Rauf Denktash. In the same report Ghali referred to the Turkish occupied northern part of Cyprus as the most militarized region in the world.
The Foreign Minister said that following that, Boutros Ghali submitted ideas aiming at a Cyprus settlement, which however “were hampered mostly by the Turkish stance.”
“This is why his memory is being linked with the current efforts (for a Cyprus settlement), and I hope that his legacy will this time be honoured,” he noted.
Kasoulides wrote in the book of condolences that “we are saddened by the passing of the former UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros Ghali, a remarkable Egyptian diplomat and an accomplished statesman whose tireless efforts for peace will be remembered.”
“The people of Cyprus are particularly indebted to Boutros Ghali for his avid keenness to resolve the Cyprus problem. His legacy perseveres. We express our deepest condolences to his family and to the people of Egypt,” he added.
The latest round of UN-led peace talks, to reunite Cyprus, began in May last year. Talks continue between the leaders of the island’s two communities President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Moustafa Akinci.