Slight impasse over progress in Cyprus problem working groups and technical committees

THE UN Secretary General’s new Special Representative Taye-Brook Zerihoun yesterday met the senior aides to the two leaders who were instrumental in setting up the working groups and technical committees.

Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou and Ozdil Nami, the advisor to Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat met Zerihoun at the Ledra Palace.

Both men briefed him on the work of the 13 working groups and technical committees, which have been experiencing difficulties, according to the Greek Cypriot side.

The government wants the committees to progress more before entering negotiations with Talat on the substantive issues but the Turkish Cypriot side says negotiations should go ahead.

Yesterday after the meeting Iacovou told reporters: “We want to see substantial progress in all issues. This is our aim and we remain steadfast in our efforts to have results and to use those results as a basis for negotiations when they start.”

The outcome of a meeting between political parties from both sides yesterday was that the two did not seem to be speaking the same language with regards to when negotiations are actually due to begin under the agreement reached between Talat and President Demetris Christofias on March 21.

Talat thinks talks should start in June, three months from the date of the leaders’ meeting in March 21, while Christofias sees it as a meeting to review the progress of the committees and groups, which will ultimately lead to a date for a resumption of talks.

The slight impasse will be the subject of a meeting next Friday between Christofias and Talat. Christofias said he would ask the Turkish Cypriot leader to review the basis of the process with him.

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