Transcript of Remarks by Alexander Downer following the meeting of Cyprus leaders
Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Let me just say just a few words, and my few words will suffice, as you’ll quickly find out. The leaders met throughout the day with a break of around three hours when Mr Christofias had to go down to Larnaca to a funeral. Other than that they met throughout the day until very recently. They have been focusing their discussions on governance and power-sharing. Given the way the discussions have evolved during the course of the day, the two leaders have decided that they will meet again on Friday for further discussions; and they’ll meet here right where we are at the Chief of Mission’s house for those discussions on Friday.
Question: So, you have nothing to announce today, this is not the end of the second round of intensive talks?
Mr Downer: That’s right. What’s going to happen is that the officials will have some discussions, and then the leaders themselves will meet again on Friday. So that will be, of course, the culmination of this intensive period.
Question: We have had three days of intensive talks. There was nothing to announce today as regards any convergences on the governance issue?
Mr Downer: We are not announcing anything today because the leaders are meeting again on Friday after further discussions amongst the officials.
Question: Any news from New York for the trip of the Secretary-General?
Mr Downer: The Secretary-General, I think, will be talking to the media himself in the next couple of hours and you will be able to pick up on what he says in the international wire services. I understand he is having a media stake-out at about 2:45 p.m. New York time today. I’ve just been talking with him myself.
Question: Can we speak of any progress made over these six days?
Mr Downer: Well, the proof of that pudding will be, as they say, in the eating. By that I mean there will be statements made at the end of this process, which has been extended until Friday. There will be statements made at the end of this process at an appropriate time, in an appropriate way, which will explain what has been happening.
Question: What about the other issues – European issues and the economy?
Mr Downer: Well, all of this will be discussed and explained when this intensive phase comes to an end.
Question: You said that statements will be made on Friday, so can we assume…
Mr Downer: The leaders meeting will be on Friday; statements will be made at the end of the process. We haven’t worked out when the statements will exactly be made and what statements will be made. Obviously, as you will appreciate, that kind of mechanical issue is something that is looked at at the very end of the process.
Question: Do you think you will be in a position to report on progress on Friday?
Mr Downer: Well, we’ll see. We’ll see what is said on Friday.
Question: Will it be an all day one?
Mr Downer: It probably won’t be. That’s likely to be just during the morning.
Question: What is the snag, why the delay, why an extra day for talks? What’s the hold-up?
Mr Downer: All of that will be…well, the way you present the question is a little emotive and subjective. I think I would put it a different way….The important thing is that in all peace processes, wherever they are around the world, that the leadership is engaged, that they are constructively working through issues, and trying to find solutions to problems. In this particular case putting a little more time at the end of this intensive period is one option; another option is for people to stay up all night, which sometimes happens in negotiations. I think this is a civilized and constructive way of handling it.
Question: We’ve been hearing some very persistent rumours over the past few days on the Secretary-General coming out on Sunday for meetings on Monday…
Mr Downer: …Well, I read it all over the front of the newspaper.
Question: I wanted to know what is delaying any formal announcement. Is anything expected to be announced for him to come?
Mr Downer: The answer to your question is this: The Secretary-General, I think you’ll find, is having a press conference, at about 2:45 today to talk about a number of things. This is an example of the Secretary-General announcing himself, or his Spokesman, announcing himself the plans of the Secretary-General. Any plans the Secretary-General may or may not have, won’t be announced here in Nicosia. They are, as always, typically announced in New York. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Question: Even with this extension, are we still looking at a third intensive round?
Mr Downer: We’ve never said that there would be a third intensified round. But more will be revealed as time goes by, that is always the case.
Question: Are you planning to meet the leaders on Monday as well?
Mr Downer: Well, Monday is next week. We’ll see what happens next week when next week arrives. 27.01.2010
