Weston: sense of urgency makes me optimistic

U.S. STATE Department Special Co-ordinator for Cyprus, Thomas Weston, said yesterday there was an urgency that gave him a feeling of optimism about the prospects for a settlement.

In a brief statement to reporters at the end of his five-day visit, Weston said he had had a very productive visit "and one more visit than usual because of the urgency we feel in addressing the whole Cyprus question," he said.

He said that by "urgency" he meant "the relatively short time we have to accomplish our goal of achieving a just and comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue before the decision is made on the accession of Cyprus to the EU in December".

Weston said during this visit he had spent a lot more time than he normally did with leaders from both communities, as opposed to the interlocutors to the negotiations themselves.

"I come away, once again, with a sense that there is a widespread desire for a settlement but more importantly also a widespread assessment about the urgency of doing this now," he said.

The international community is underlining its desire for an agreement by mid-December in time for the EU summit in Copenhagen, when Cyprus is expected to be approved for entry in 2004. However, direct talks have been put on hold while Denktash recovers from a heart operation he underwent in New York earlier this month. His aides say this will take at least eight weeks - taking him past the Copenhagen deadline.

According to reports from the north yesterday, Denktash's health is improving fast, and he is expected back on the island shortly, possibly by next week.

But before he leaves New York, Denktash may meet the UN Secretary-general's adviser Alvaro de Soto, who heads for the US on Friday. De Soto yesterday met President Clerides before leaving for Ankara. He will hold talks today with Turkish government officials and on Friday will fly on to New York to brief the UN Secretary-general on his latest contacts. It is thought he may also meet Denktash. De Soto is expected to return to the island on November 7.

CYPRUS MAIL 31/10/2002