CYPRUS negotiations are expected to intensify towards the end of this year and into 2010, the UN said yesterday in a request for funding totalling US$3,279,200.
“It is anticipated that the leaders and the representatives will increase the frequency of their meetings held under the auspices of the United Nations. In addition, the Special Adviser to the Secretary General will also increasingly engage regional and international stakeholders on substantive issues in support of the process,” a statement from the UN said.
The requested amount will provide for the salaries and common staff costs for the continuation of 19 existing positions, consultants, travel of staff, facilities and infrastructure, ground and air transportation, communications, information technology, and other supplies, services and equipment.
The financial requirements for 2010 are less compared to 2009 because of the proposed abolition of one position, the decrease in the post adjustment applicable to Cyprus and the reduced requirements for operational costs as the majority of the acquisition of office and furniture equipment was completed in 2009, and some of the logistical support will be provided free of charge by UNFICYP.
With regard to the direct target of the UN mission in Cyprus, the report provides for the facilitation of fully fledged negotiations at the level of leaders, advisory services at the highest level on substantive issues in support of full-fledged negotiations, briefings to the diplomatic community on the island and special envoys for the Cyprus question on a monthly basis, in-depth assessment of the political situation in Cyprus and in the region through quarterly visits, facilitation of the six Working Groups and the seven Technical Committees on procedural, legal, technical and substantive issues, the meetings with the Cyprus press (50), press releases (60), establishment and maintenance of contact with the media, and the reports to and briefings of the Security Council.
“The objective would be achieved provided that the current political will of the leaders prevails and that there is continuing support from the international community”, the report says.
The report describes developments since the Cyprus elections in February 2008, and the mandate of the Special Adviser to the Secretary General on Cyprus.
It says that “regarding the United Nations country team, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General coordinates expertise from various sources, including the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus and United Nations agencies, inter alia, UNDP, in order to contribute to efforts to create an enabling environment for fully fledged negotiations.”
