Brussels, 14/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - Speaking on 13 December, José Manuel Barroso reiterated the full support of the European Commission for the efforts of United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to work with the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot sides to finalise the process and reach a comprehensive settlement of the conflict in Cyprus.
“The settlement negotiations are now at a decisive stage. The Commission encourages both leaders to conclude their talks successfully in the coming months. The January meeting of the two leaders with the UN secretary general should become a landmark on the way to a solution to the Cyprus issue. There is no time to lose after 37 years of de facto division. The EU would like soon to see a united Cyprus”, he stated after a meeting of the Cyprus Steering Group in Strasbourg. At the meeting, the group, which was set up in January 2009, discussed developments related to the ongoing settlement talks following the recent meeting of the UN Secretary General with the leaders of the two communities on the island of Cyprus in New York on 30-31 October. (CG/transl.rt)