High-level talks on Cyprus seek to bridge 'narrow gap.'

A joint high-level meeting on Cyprus took place at United Nations Headquarters from 17 to 20 January 1985. The talks were held under the auspices of the Secretary-General in the framework of the mission of good offices entrusted to him by the Security Council. Delegations of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities attended.

They had before them the documentation which had resulted from the high-level proximity talks held in New York in September, October and November/December 1984. In these talks, the Secretary-General met separately with representatives of the two communities

In an opening statement on 17 January, the Secretary-General said: "We are here to seek an agreement leading to the establishment of a Federal Republic of Cyprus."

While "difficulties remain to be overcome, pitfalls to be avoided and mistrust to be dispelled", he said, "we obviously succeeded in clearing a large amount of ground during the proximity talks, with a view to constructing a formal framework to provide a solution to the problem, bearing in mind the relevant United Nations resolutions".

"A new stage" had been reached in the search for a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem, "which for more than two decades has vitiated the political situation in the island and endangered the peace, not only among Cypriots, but also in the wider area". (Press Release (SG/SM/3651)

Meeting Conclusion: The meeting concluded on 20 January. The Secretary-General stated that both sides had started from the documentation provide. The Turkish Cypriot side stated to the Secretary-General that it "fully accepts the draft agreement".

The Greek Cypriot side stated to the Secretary-General that "in conformity with its clear understanding, it accepts the documentation presented by the Secretary-General as a basis for negotiations in accordance with the integrated whole approach aiming at a comprehensive and overall solution to the Cyprus problem, and that it came to the high-level meeting in absolute good faith with the view to having constructive and meaningful negotiation".

It was his belief, the Secretary-General stated on 20 January, that "in the search for a solution of the Cyrpus question, the gap has never been so narrow, and that there is a need to persevere". He said he would remain in touch with both sides with a view to their meeting again at a joint high-level meeting, if possible before the end of February 1985. (Press Release SG/SM/3652)

On 2 February, the...