Turkish & Greek Cypriot Committees Meet For First Time

LEFKOSA - Turkish and Greek Cypriot committees gathered in the buffer zone in Cyprus for the first time on Friday.
The working groups and technical committees from both parts of Cyprus began their sessions in the buffer zone for the first time after Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders reached an agreement in March.
On March 21st, President Mehmet Ali Talat of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias decided to set up six working groups and seven technical committees.
During the meeting, a senior UN official defined opening of the Lokmaci border gate as an important step, and Friday`s meeting as a promising development.
Elizabeth Spehar, the chief of the United Nations Peace-Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), said the UN was ready to do everything in its power for a settlement in the island.
Also speaking in the meeting, President Talat`s representative said their target is to solve Cyprus problem.
"We have no time for failure, and there is no need to be emotional and uncompromising," Talat`s envoy Ozdil Nami told the gathering.
In the same meeting, a Greek Cypriot commissioner said he hopes Friday`s meeting would be the first step of a solution.
Commissioner George Iacovou reiterated that the Greek Cypriot administration wanted bi-zonal and bi-communal federal solution.
The working groups will deal with Cyprus problem, whereas technical committees will discuss daily matters.
After Talat-Christofias meeting on March 21st, Turkish and Greek Cypriot officials set up working groups on administration and share of power, EU issues, security and guarantees, territory, property and economic issues.
The technical committees will focus on issues regarding crime, economic and commercial issues, cultural heritage, crisis management, humanitarian issues, health and environment.
(BRC-AÖ)