Security talks disappoint Holbrooke

TOP US negotiator Richard Holbrooke has expressed his disappointment at the lack of progress in the recent security talks in Nicosia between President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

“I was pleased that the security talks took place, but disappointed that they did not make progress, and I just said I hoped they would resume in the future.”

Holbrooke was speaking from New York where he met President Clerides on Monday and held a working breakfast, attended by American businessmen, in his honour yesterday.

Commenting about general progress on the Cyprus issue, Holbrooke said: “We don’t see any movement by anybody. You all have to work that out. We are just here to help, but I have no reason to see that there has been any change in the situation.”

Holbrooke said he wouldn’t visit Cyprus before he meets Denktash in Washington later this month.

The US diplomat was also eager for American investors to be briefed by President Clerides on the situation in Cyprus and on financial opportunities.

“I think most people do not understand how strong the Cyprus economy is. So this (meeting) is very useful,” said Holbrooke.

During the meeting 16 prominent US businessmen and journalists questioned Clerides about local banking systems and financial services.

They were reassured that Cyprus followed international regulations on combating money-laundering.

“I believe we have laid the foundation to enable American investment in Cyprus to flourish on the island and throughout the region,” said Finance Minister Christodoulos Christodoulou.

Washington would like to encourage stronger trade links between both communities in Cyprus.

“A rising tide can lift all ships. And the people in the region, Greek and Turks alike, should think very hard about ways they can improve their situation on mutual economic benefits,” said Holbrooke.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.