Brussels, 24/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - The spokesman for the secretary-general of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, stated on 21 April that the latter does not consider the progress achieved during negotiations on Cypriot reunification sufficient for organising an international conference. This conference was initially planned for the beginning of May. The Special UN Adviser on Cyprus, Alexander Downer, explained that the two sides have not yet converged closely enough on key issues. He said talks have stalled on how executive power would be shared under an envisioned federation and on how to deal with private property losses resulting from the 1974 partition of the island. Each side blames the other for the breakdown in negotiations.
UN mediators previously announced that they wanted an agreement (which has now largely been compromised) to end partition on the island, before the republic of Cyprus takes up the reins of the Council of Ministers of the EU in July. Turkey is threatening to freeze its relations with the presidency of the EU Council, under the Cypriot Presidency. (CG/transl.fl)