Following separate discussions with the two leaders, Ban chaired a joint meeting to decide where the process goes from here as pressure builds for a deal to be sealed this year.
The 36-hour-long visit to Cyprus was the first by Ban, who arrived on the island on Sunday evening, and is considered to be a personal show of support for the talks between Christofias and Talat.
Christofias and Talat have achieved only marginal progress in 17 months of open-ended negotiations. But Ban said he is pleased that the two leaders have made significant progress on the key issue of power-sharing under an envisioned federal model during January's stepped-up talks. “I'm here to show my personal support to the Cypriot-led talks to reunify the country,” Ban said on Sunday. “My visit is a reflection of the importance I have attached to the current efforts ... to reach a settlement.”
Cyprus was divided between the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot south and the Turkish Cypriot north in 1974 when Turkey militarily intervened in the island's north after a brief coup by supporters of unification with Greece. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) is only recognized by Turkey, which maintains 35,000 troops there.
Ban's trip also aims to dispel widespread public gloom on both sides of the divide that the two leaders can successfully end the long-standing dispute impeding Turkey's bid to join the European Union and harming EU-NATO cooperation.
“I am under no illusion that the Cyprus problem is easy to solve, or about the difficulties that you face,” Ban said. “At the same time, I'm confident that a solution is possible and within reach.” Wide differences remain between the sides on issues such as arrangements on property lost during the internal conflict, extending Turkey's military intervention rights and territorial adjustments.
The UN chief lauded the two leaders for their “personal commitment” and “leadership” during the negotiations but urged both to demonstrate “courage, flexibility and vision” to reach a deal.
“This process belongs to Cyprus,” said Ban. “Your destiny is in your hands. You have taken responsibility for finding a solution.” Ban said the international community's expectations for a deal are “very high,” and he underscored the benefits of a settlement to the island, the region and the world. “Solving this Cyprus problem will give inspiration to all those around the world trying to solve other seemingly intractable conflicts,” the UN chief said.
In Athens, the Greek Foreign Ministry announced that Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas was scheduled to depart for Washington on Monday for a visit which will end on Thursday.
As of today, Droutsas will have talks with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on its official Web site. On Thursday, Droutsas will have talks with UN chief Ban, “with whom he will discuss, among other things, developments in the Cyprus issue following the Secretary General's visit to Cyprus, as well as the FYROM [the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia] name issue,” the statement said.
Last week, on the sidelines of an international conference on Afghanistan held in London, Droutsas had bilateral talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu. Droutsas later announced that he had accepted Davutoğlu's invitation to pay a visit to Ankara soon.
