Replying to a press question on Cyprus, the UN chief expressed hope that the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus will have succeeded in making "greater progress on the essential issues of the talks, including property and security", by the meeting in Geneva on January 26.
Ban Ki-moon noted that he is scheduled to meet with the two leaders in Geneva, and will become personally involved in the negotiations, as had been agreed in November.
The meeting concerns issues that have been long outstanding, and "the negotiation is very difficult, but it is very encouraging that the leaders of the two communities have held direct talks 80 times". He reminded that he had invited the two leaders to New York for negotiations in November, but found that "more time was needed".
He added that "I gave them nine more weeks" to resolve those important issues so that, when they would meet again in Geneva "we will be able to make further progress, tackling these essential issues, including property and security".
Stressing that the support of all the sides is necessary, he noted that the European Union fully supports the UN's mission of good services, as well as the bilateral negotiations.
To a question on the name issue between Greece and Fyrom and whether he intends to put a timetable "like the nine weeks on the Cyprus issue", Ban stressed that "first of all, as a matter of principle, the imposition of any timetable is not desired".
"I did not set a timetable of nine weeks on the Cyprus issue. The nine weeks were set so that they could come and meet with me in Geneva with a more improved agreement," the UN chief said while, regarding the Fyrom name issue, he noted that his special envoy on the issue Matthew Nimetz will continue his effort and will have a meeting with the representatives of the two sides in New York on February nine.
He said he was in the pleasant position of seeing the momentum created last year from the direct contacts between the prime ministers of Greece and Fyrom, adding it was now time to move ahead to decisions that will resolve the issue in a mutually acceptable way, "and I have informed both prime ministers that the United Nations support a speedy achievement of that goal".
"2011 is a year with many challenges," Ban Ki-moon stressed.
(ANA-MPA)
Ban Ki-moon noted that he is scheduled to meet with the two leaders in Geneva, and will become personally involved in the negotiations, as had been agreed in November.
The meeting concerns issues that have been long outstanding, and "the negotiation is very difficult, but it is very encouraging that the leaders of the two communities have held direct talks 80 times". He reminded that he had invited the two leaders to New York for negotiations in November, but found that "more time was needed".
He added that "I gave them nine more weeks" to resolve those important issues so that, when they would meet again in Geneva "we will be able to make further progress, tackling these essential issues, including property and security".
Stressing that the support of all the sides is necessary, he noted that the European Union fully supports the UN's mission of good services, as well as the bilateral negotiations.
To a question on the name issue between Greece and Fyrom and whether he intends to put a timetable "like the nine weeks on the Cyprus issue", Ban stressed that "first of all, as a matter of principle, the imposition of any timetable is not desired".
"I did not set a timetable of nine weeks on the Cyprus issue. The nine weeks were set so that they could come and meet with me in Geneva with a more improved agreement," the UN chief said while, regarding the Fyrom name issue, he noted that his special envoy on the issue Matthew Nimetz will continue his effort and will have a meeting with the representatives of the two sides in New York on February nine.
He said he was in the pleasant position of seeing the momentum created last year from the direct contacts between the prime ministers of Greece and Fyrom, adding it was now time to move ahead to decisions that will resolve the issue in a mutually acceptable way, "and I have informed both prime ministers that the United Nations support a speedy achievement of that goal".
"2011 is a year with many challenges," Ban Ki-moon stressed.
(ANA-MPA)
