STATEMENT ATTRIBUTABLE TO SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ON CURRENT ROUND OF CYPRUS PROXIMITY TALKS

Press Release
SG/SM/7251

STATEMENT ATTRIBUTABLE TO SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ON CURRENT ROUND OF CYPRUS PROXIMITY TALKS

The following statement was issued today by the Office of the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The undertaking made at the Secretary-General's request by both sides at the outset of the current round of proximity talks on Cyprus was to abstain from making public statements on any issues relevant to the talks.

This undertaking notwithstanding, a public statement attributed to one of the two sides has appeared in yesterday's Cypriot Press.

It is obvious that such statements cannot reflect accurately what is going on in the proximity talks of which only the Secretary-General can provide an authoritative version.

The purpose of this moratorium on statements is to preserve the confidentiality of the talks and to avoid public exchanges between the two sides on the relevant issues that could affect the constructive spirit in which they should take place. It is therefore hoped that the moratorium will be strictly adhered to.

* *** *