G.O. Notes

The Cyprus leaders this morning started the first of three days of intensive talks at the official residence of the UNFICYP Chief of Mission.  After a tête-à-tête session that lasted about 90 minutes, the leaders and their teams met in plenary.  Today’s talks are set to go into the evening.

There is a sizeable media contingent at the venue of the talks; media interest — or at least their physical presence — had waned considerably before today.  Expectations for this stage of the negotiations are high, with the sides discussing issues ranging from how to share power in the future to how to integrate the whole island’s economy into the European Union.

Along with heightened media interest there is also much visible security at the venue, with some correspondents remarking on checks that included screening all vehicles and equipment. 

JL Diaz

Work is finished at the official residence of the UNFICYP Chief of Mission in the UN Protected Area, where the intensive round of talks will be held  beginning on 11 January.  Inside the house, reception halls and bedrooms have been converted into conference rooms and offices.  Outside, much of the focus has been on preparing the area in front of the house for the media, including providing Wi-Fi access.  For now the only thing we can say for certain is that the talks will start at 10 a.m. each day, with no set ending time (we have provided for early supper, just in case).  Below are pictures of the house and the talks throughout the year and a half that the current process has been running.

JL Diaz