The UN Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer has met with Prime Minister Derviş Eroglu. The course of the Cyprus negotiation process was discussed during the meeting at the Prime Minister's office.
Speaking before the meeting, Prime Minister Eroğlu expressed his contentment for hosting the UN Envoy once again at his office. "His visit is very meaningful. We will exchange views on course of the negotiation process. I will be very pleased to hear Downer's views", the Premier said.
The UN Official also voiced his satisfaction over having an opportunity to visit Prime Minister Eroglu before returning to Australia for summer holiday.
Mr Downer said he spent most of his time helping the two leaders to solve the Cyprus problem, adding that exchanging views with leaders of Turkish and Greek Cypriot political parties is an important part of his duty.
Pointing out that a difficult process is being conducted; he said "Cyprus remains divided for a long time. We have been doing our best to help reunite the island on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal order and political equality, which will have a single international identity.
He noted that he is still cautiously optimistic for a solution in Cyprus.
PROTEST TO SLOVAKIAN EMBASSY
Today's routine round-table meeting of Turkish and Greek Cypriot political parties, which are being organized by the Slovakian Embassy, witnessed a protest by Turkish parties against Slovakian Ambassador Anna Turenicova.
Representatives from the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces, the Democrat Party and the Socialist Democracy Party left the meeting just minutes after it started to protest the Ambassador for not attending a lunch hosted by President Mehmet Ali Talat for ambassadors of EU countries last month. Leaders and representatives of Turkish and Greek Cypriot political parties came together at another round-table meeting organized by the Slovakian Embassy in South Cyprus.
Soon after the start of the meeting, the Democrat Party's Foreign Affairs Secretary Bengu Şonya delivered a speech protesting the Slovakian Ambassador for not attending the lunch given by President Talat for Ambassadors of EU member countries last month.
Representatives of the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces, the Democrat Party and the Socialist Democracy Party left the meeting in protest of the Ambassador.
On the 25th of November, President Talat hosted a lunch for ambassadors of EU member countries and briefed them on the Turkish Side's views regarding the course of the negotiations process.
Some of the ambassadors, who earlier confirmed their attendance to the lunch, later chose not to attend the event by giving the Greek Cypriot Side's preventive initiatives as an excuse.
DOWNER MAKES PRESENTATION RELATED TO CYPRUS NEGOTIATIONS
It was stated that UN Secretary General's Cyprus Special Advisor Alexander Downer made a presentation related to the recent developments of Cyprus negotiations at the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce.
The presentation which was closed to the press was realized in the presence of Chamber's assembly and members.
Making a short statement before his presentation, President of the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce Gunay Cerkez said that Downer spent a lot of time and great efforts related to the solution of the Cyprus problem.