UN speaks cautioysly of "new momentum" in Cyprus talks

Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders have injected "new momentum" into talks on reuniting their divided island, but the UN-brokered peace process may not succeed, said Special UN Cyprus Envoy Alexander Downer yesterday. Representatives of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Dervis Eroglu and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias are negotiating this week. The two leaders will hold their own talks next Monday, said Downer. This week UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for new efforts by Christofias and Eroglu at a meeting in New York that sought to end the deadlock on Cyprus. Downer briefed the UN Security Council about a new Cyprus report by Ban, set to be discussed by the Security Council next week, and then told a press conference that "the process is difficult." But recently things have taken on "a new momentum," he added. But he cautioned that, according to Ban, "This process may not be successful. And it is important that people bear that in mind. It is not a foregone conclusion that these negotiations are going to succeed." Ban, Christofias and Eroglu will meet again in January in Geneva, Downer said. Diplomats have said there is a risk that the UN could pull out of the mediation attempt if there is no progress in the talks.