UN / DOWNER

Commenting on the closed session today on talks between Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders, UN Special Advisor for Cyprus Alexander Downer said that the process needed to "maintain momentum," adding that there weren't any "specific timelines but it is important that it does maintain momentum." UNTV

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:51
• Production Date: 15 March 2011
• Asset Language: Original
• Subject Topical: POLITICAL AFFAIRS; LAW; INTERNATIONAL LAW; POLITICAL CONDITIONS; POLITICAL CONDITIONS; POLITICAL MOVEMENTS; INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; PEACE AND SECURITY
• Geographic Subject: CYPRUS
• MAMS Id: U110315h

Description

STORY: UN / DOWNER
TRT: 1.51
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 14 MARCH 2011, NEW YORK CITY

Shotlist

RECENT 2011, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

14 MARCH 2011, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, Alexander Downer SRSG for UN Mission in Cyprus (UNFICYP)

FILE / RECENT / UNTV / NEW YORK

2. Close up, cameraman

14 MARCH 2011, NEW YORK CITY

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexander Downer, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus, UNFICYP:
“I think everybody made the point, nearly all of the delegations made the point in their own ways –which is a point we often make- that this process needs to maintain momentum. There aren’t any specific timelines but it is important that it does maintain momentum, continues to move forward and constructively.”

FILE / RECENT / UNTV / NEW YORK

4. Med shot, journalist taking notes

14 MARCH 2011, NEW YORK CITY

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexander Downer, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus, UNFICYP:
“So the 100 meeting will be an opportunity for everybody to reflect on how they feel its gone than those previous 99 meetings and our view is that it’ll be important that meeting and subsequent meetings continue to build momentum towards an agreement, difficult as that may be.”

FILE / RECENT / UNTV / NEW YORK

6. Med shot, journalist taking notes

14 MARCH 2011, NEW YORK CITY

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexander Downer, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus, UNFICYP:
“What the SG (Secretary-General) will do is get in touch with the leaders late in March sometime. I mean I’m sure he is giving now consideration to when exactly when he’ll get in touch with them, and discuss with them whether it’ll be worth his while having another meeting with them during late March into April but such a meeting would depend on the progress that’s been made between now and then. And that’s something that the Secretary-General will have a look at nearer the time.”

FILE / RECENT / UNTV / NEW YORK

8. Med shot, journalist taking notes

14 MARCH 2011, NEW YORK CITY

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexander Downer, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus, UNFICYP:
“Look, I don’t think any of these sort of incidents help but for as long as Cyprus remains divided in this place, Berosha remains as it is. There is potential for things to happen. And this just reminds us all of the urgency to resolve the Cyprus problem once and for all. So that these kind of incidents don’t occur in the future.”

FILE / RECENT / UNTV / NEW YORK

10. Close up, cameraman

14 MARCH 2011, NEW YORK CITY

11. Alexander Downer, United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus leaving journalists

Storyline

Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders today held the first of two top-level meetings scheduled for this week, under United Nations sponsorship, as they intensified their efforts to reunify the Mediterranean island which has been split for almost 50 years.

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Special Advisor for Cyprus Alexander Downer briefed journalists today following the closed meeting in the Security Council.

Downer said that he had a “good opportunity” to talk about the progress of the Cyprus issue although nothing “very dramatic” came out of the meeting.

On Friday (18 Mar) the 100th meeting since the process began, will take place between former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, the present Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu and President Demetris Christofias.

Downer said that the 100th meeting would be an opportunity for everybody to reflect on the progress made after reviewing the 99 previous meetings, adding that all meetings continue to build momentum towards an agreement, “difficult as that may be.”

When asked whether the Secretary-General would meet with leaders in New York next month, Downer said he would discuss with the leaders toward the end of the month whether it would be “worth his while” having another meeting. Such a meeting he said, would depend on the progress made “between now and then.”

Asked about the two Polish parliamentarians who were recently detained while visiting the restricted military area of Varosha in Turkish controlled Cyprus, Downer said that he didn’t think the incidents “helped the situation,” adding that it was a reminder that “the urgency to resolve the Cyprus problem once and for all,” so that these kind of incidents don’t occur in the future.

In a report in December, Mr. Ban warned that the talks could “founder fatally” if substantive agreement is not reached within the next few months. “A critical window of opportunity is rapidly closing,” he said, stressing that Greek Cypriot parliamentary elections scheduled for May and elections in Turkey in June militate against constructive talks in the second quarter of 2011.

The UN has maintained a peacekeeping force on the island – known by its acronym UNFICYP – since 1964, with a current strength of nearly 1,000 uniformed personnel and 150 international and national civilian staff.