Talat: "UN head Ban Kı-Moon is optimistic about a Cyprus settlement"

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in Berlin. Afterwards, Talat said that the secretary-general was pleased with the recent progress made on the Cyprus issue. Expressing his hope that comprehensive negotiations on the issue will start later this month, Talat said, "The secretary-general appointed his special envoy to support solution talks, and this indicates that he believes a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus issue will be reached at the end of these talks. This is because under Security Council resolutions, the secretary-general appoints a special envoy to help solve an issue only when he believes a solution will probably be reached."