Brussels, 31/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 30 May, the leaders of the two Cypriot communities - President of the Turkish Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades, and the president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Dervis Eroglu - “committed to a peace process aimed at finding a solution that is acceptable to both communities and which will create a bright future for the whole island”, the United Nations special adviser on Cyprus, Alexander Downer, announced in a press release after a dinner which brought Anastasiades and Eroglu together. “This has been the first opportunity for the two leaders of the two communities to get together since the election of Mr Anastasiades, and it has been good to have had this opportunity”, Downer said. He stated that the evening had been “very good” and that “the dinner went very well”. According to a Greek Cypriot source, the leaders discussed the peace process and the next general steps in a very good atmosphere. Talks could be resumed at the end of September or beginning of October (see EUROPE 10845).
After the dinner, Anastasiades said that at the current time they are in the preparatory phase as regards efforts to find a solution to Cyprus problem. He said that the dinner was good. Eroglu also described the dinner and discussion as good.
Before the meeting, Anastasiades had sent a letter to the United Nations secretary general saying that the dinner should be a social event for the first meeting since his election in February. He said it did not mean that it was the start of the negotiations.
The leaders of the two communities dined with Downer and Lisa Buttenheim, the special representative of the United Nations secretary general, at her residence in the buffer zone. Their partners were also there. (CG/transl.fl)