UN envoy Eide meets Kotzias ahead of Cyprus Conference

The United Nations special envoy Espen Barth Eide said Tuesday that success at the June 28 Cyprus Conference in Crans-Montana, Switzerland will hinge on a “strategic agreement” on the fundamental issues of security, guarantees, territorial adjustments, property and governance.

Speaking after meeting with Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias in Athens Tuesday, the Norwegian diplomat said that even if an agreement is reached, there will still be a lot of work to be done, as there will be many legal and financial issues that must be resolved.

Greek analysts have interpreted the notion of a “strategic agreement” as an interim agreement of sorts which will serve as a constant source of pressure for a solution if there are no final decisions made at the Cyprus Conference.

Eide is expected to submit a common document which will form the basis of negotiations at Crans-Montana.