LEFKOSA - A UN envoy to Cyprus described Thursday the initiative and commitment displayed by Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders to start extensive talks in the island as encouraging.
Taye-Brook Zerihoun, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), held a press conference in Lefkosa on the occasion of the "International Day of UN Peacekeepers" on Thursday.
During the conference, Zerihoun said the recent developments in the island gave UN many reasons for hope, UNFICYP spokesperson Jose Diaz said in a written statement.
"The leaders of the two communities have shown determination to move the peace process forward, and we are privileged to assist them as they advance on this worthy cause," Zerihoun said.
Upon a question on whether it would be realistic to expect Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders to engage in peace negotiations within the next month, Zerihoun said, "I think they are the only ones who can determine the degree to which it is realistic or not".
"We are encouraged by the initiative and commitment the two leaders have shown," he said.
Zerihoun also said that there had been an appreciable progress in the process since the two leaders` meeting on March 21st.
He said the leaders were the masters of such process and added, "We are here to help and encourage them".
President Mehmet Ali Talat of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias met at the buffer zone on March 21st. The two leaders agreed to set up working groups and technical committees to make preparations for extensive talks for the solution of the Cyprus issue.
(DO-AÖ)