Transcript of Remarks by Special Adviser of the Secretary-General Alexander Downer following the Meeting of Cyprus leaders
First of all, ladies and gentlemen, the leaders had a meeting today, for slightly under two hours, in a very good atmosphere. It was a very positive atmosphere today. They continued the discussions about property, and the Representatives will be meeting again on Friday afternoon (30th) to continue with those discussions, and the leaders are to meet again on the 4th of August next week, and then they have a meeting on the 10th of August as well. So, that’s pretty much all I have to say, except, yes, to repeat what I said yesterday that the two leaders and the two Representatives and I and our spouses are very much looking forward to the dinner tonight with Mr Eroglu, he is hosting the dinner, and we appreciate very much his invitation.
Question: Regarding the substance of the talks, Mr Downer, on the property issue, do you have anything that says we have a step forward… ?
Mr Downer: Well, just to say that today’s meeting was a very good meeting. This is one of those issues where the quality of the meetings inevitably varies from time to time, as you would expect in every single negotiation that ever takes place anywhere in the world. But today’s meeting was held in a very good atmosphere. As to the substance of the negotiations, no, we’re not going to get into the substance of the negotiations. I mean I think there’s got to be a point where there’s, in all negotiations, there is nothing peculiar here about Cyprus, but in all negotiations, they have to be held with a degree of privacy.
