UN seeks Cyprus funding into 2012

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon foresees an increase in the frequency of meetings between the two leaders, he said in his report requesting 2012 funding.

“Despite periods of intense activity, the talks have taken longer than was hoped. However, progress has been achieved on some of the issues and a significant body of work has accumulated over more than two years of negotiations,” Ban said in his report.

“Given the commitments made by the two leaders to the Secretary-General on 7 July 2011 in Geneva, it is anticipated that the talks between the leaders will continue, but will still require facilitation by the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Cyprus, and that the leaders and their representatives will increase the frequency of their meetings held under the auspices of the United Nations,”

Ban said he anticipated that the UN Security Council will continue to 

support the process and the Office of the Special Adviser. 

He said that in his latest meeting with the two leaders in July, they had agreed to increase the momentum of the negotiations.

He added that his Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer would increasingly engage regional and international stakeholders on substantive issues and would be required to travel to regional capitals in 2012.

Downer would likely spend the same amount of time in Cyprus in 2012 as has this year, Ban said.

The Secretary-General reiterated that there was a need in the coming months for a heightened sense of urgency. Progress on all core issues would need to be accelerated in order to maintain the momentum needed to drive the process towards a successful outcome.

According to the report, the estimated requirements for the Office of the Special Adviser to the Secretary General on Cyprus for 2012 would amount to $3,861,900 net This amount would provide for the salaries and common staff costs for the 19 existing positions, general temporary assistance, operational costs comprising consultants, official travel, facilities and infrastructure, ground transportation, air transportation, communications, information technology, and supplies, services and equipment. 

The two leaders will meet Ban in New York at the end of this month. (CNA)

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