Eide to visit Ankara – Athens – Nicosia in November

UN Secretary General`s Special Adviser Espen Barth Eide is getting ready to visit the triangle Ankara – Athens – Nicosia during the first week of November.

UN sources say that the former Norwegian Foreign Minister`s first stop will be Ankara on Novermber 4. He will travel to Athens on November 5 and to Cyprus on November 7.

Eide, who has been in New York and has met with Ban Ki-moon and UN Secretariat officials, also had meetings with the permanent representatives of Greece and Turkey and the acting permanent representative of Cyprus as well as a representative of the Turkish Cypriots and ambassadors of the UN Security Council`s permanent member–states.

During his meetings with Greek and Cypriot diplomats he seemed to understand the position of principle that it would be amiss to hold peace talks under present circumstances but also referred to the need for “mutual compromises”, which according to him would mean the return to the situation as it stood previously.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Talks underway between President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu have been interrupted after President Anastasiades suspended his participation, following Turkish provocations in Cyprus` exclusive economic zone.

Other sources say that Eide also put forward the idea of establishing a new working group, which would act as a think tank and would focus on explaining to Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots the benefits from hydrocarbons exploitation.

He also said to have noted that stability is a necessary element for energy companies operating in the region.

Greek and Cypriot officials explained to Eide that an effort to include natural resources and the Republic of Cyprus` sovereign rights in the reunification talks would not be accepted.

The UN SG`s Special Adviser is said to have appeared optimistic that he can help bring momentum to the reunification process with the ideas he will bring to the table, provided that current obstacles are surpassed.

CNA

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