UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has briefed European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on developments in the Cyprus issue.
The two men discussed the Cyprus problem during a luncheon hosted by EU Permanent Representative to the UN Thomas Mayr Harting at his residence in New York.
According to diplomatic sources, Ban told Barroso that despite efforts undertaken until the end of March, progress achieved so far was not sufficient to convene an international conference.
Ban spoke of the difficulties lying ahead until the presidential elections of Cyprus in February 2013.
He informed Barroso about the Turkish position not to continue with membership talks during the Cyprus EU Council presidency in the second half of 2012, adding that he will try to persuade Turkish Prime Minister to change his mind when he meets him on the sidelines of NATO’s Summit in Chicago on Sunday and Monday and a few days later at a Constantinople (Istanbul) Conference on Somalia.
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe expressed the point of view that nothing should be expected to happen before the presidential elections, the same sources have said.
He also said that the chance for a breakthrough was lost when Mehmet Ali Talat was the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community (until April 2010).
According to Pascoe, the two leaders at the time hesitated to capitalize on the progress that had been achieved.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied the island’s northern third. UN-led talks have been underway since 2008 with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof.
President of the Republic Demetris Christofias had initially held talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. The talks continued after April 2010 with the new Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, who replaced Talat.