Australian Statement on Resumption of the Cyprus Settlement Negotiations
27 May 2010
As a long-standing supporter of efforts to resolve the Cyprus dispute, Australia welcomes the resumption of settlement negotiations on 26 May, following the election of a new leadership for the Turkish Cypriot community.
Australia remains hopeful that a just and lasting solution can be found that re-unifies Cyprus on the basis of a bi-zonal and bi-communal federation.
We urge both sides to build upon the convergences achieved over the past eighteen months by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Dimitris Christofias, and the former leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, Mr Mehmet Talat. We encourage both sides to continue to demonstrate the vision and political leadership that has led the communities to this historic opportunity.
Australia remains fully supportive of UN efforts, through the Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Mr Alexander Downer, to assist with the settlement talks.
Australia's commitment to the people of Cyprus spans many decades.
Australian Federal Police officers have served since 1964 as part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), making a valuable contribution to the maintenance of peace and stability between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities.
Australia has maintained a Special Representative to Cyprus since 1998. The present Special Representative, Ambassador David Ritchie, was appointed in 2008. The Special Representative works to encourage support in Cyprus and from Australia's Cypriot communities for a comprehensive settlement to this long-running dispute.
Media inquiries
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