STATEMENT BY THE UN SPOKESMAN ON CYPRUS TALKS

February 14, 2002

The following statement on Cyprus was read out during today's briefing by the Spokesman for the UN Secretary General Fred Eckhard :

       Cypriot Leaders to break talks for period of reflection 

Glafcos Clerides, the Greek Cypriot leader, and Rauf Denktash, the Turkish Cypriot leader, met today at the UN-Protected Area in Nicosia.

They will meet again Friday as earlier planned. They will have one more meeting on Tuesday, February 19 before breaking in light of the Bayram (Muslim holiday) and for a brief reflection period.

During this break, the Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto will travel to New York to report to the Secretary-General and to brief the members of the Security Council.

The talks will resume on Friday, March 1

Clerides and Denktash also reviewed the pace of their work so far. They have decided that it would be more effective to have longer meetings with more time in between, so as to concentrate efforts and allow more time for preparation. Accordingly, as of 1 March, they will be meeting on Tuesday afternoons and Friday mornings, except as otherwise agreed.

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