Annan's Adviser on Cyprus says talks aim for comprehensive, not quick, results
4 August -- At the end of the latest round of proximity talks on Cyprus, the Secretary-General's Special Adviser urged the island's people to take a long view of the negotiation process.
Alvaro de Soto told journalists in Geneva today that the two sides were aiming for a comprehensive settlement of the problem, leaving nothing to be negotiated later. This would require a binding timetable accompanied by an independent mechanism to verify compliance. Since nothing would be agreed upon until everything was agreed upon, he said, any news would necessarily come at the end of the process.
Mr. de Soto held meetings with the two leaders -- Glafcos Clerides and Rauf Denktash -- alone in their respective hotels. He also convened what he described as plenary meetings with the participation of all members of each delegation.
In response to a question, Mr. de Soto said he would be pleasantly surprised if a comprehensive settlement was reached this year, but added that given the sheer bulk of what needed to be negotiated he doubted that this would be possible.
The talks are scheduled to resume in New York on 12 September and run through October.
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