UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated on Saturday he is ready to deploy his Good Offices mission if the two Cypriot sides demonstrate their readiness to re-engage in fresh talks for the settlement of the Cyprus problem.
Following the inconclusive UN-brokered talks in Crans Montana, Switzerland, last July, Guterres held separate meetings with both the Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akkinci to discuss the future of the peace-process.
A readout issued after the meeting with Akinci, notes that “the Secretary-General and Mr. Akıncı exchanged views on the current status of the Cyprus talks, as well as their future.”
The readout added that “the Secretary-General reiterated the United Nations’ commitment to Cyprus, including the availability of his good offices for a resumption of the talks as soon as the sides demonstrate their readiness to re-engage.”
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. The latest round of UN-peace talks commenced at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana on June 28, but in the early hours of July 7, it was announced that the Conference on Cyprus ended without an agreement. Talks held under the auspices of the UN aim at reunifying Cyprus under a federal roof.
