EU Presidency statement on efforts towards a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue under UN auspices

Press release 523/2006
11 December, 2006

The Presidency of the European Union after discussions in the Council expresses its full support for the ongoing efforts of the United Nations Secretary General to resume the negotiations for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem in line with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and the principles on which the EU is founded.

The Presidency welcomes the positive responses of the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot Communities to the letter of United Nations Under-Secretary General Gambari on the implementation of their July 8 agreement. The Presidency emphasises the need to quickly start this preparatory work in order for the United Nations Secretary General's Good Offices mission to resume without unnecessary delay. The Presidency encourages the two communities to ensure that the right atmosphere prevails for this process to flourish.