Annan believes settlement of Cyprus problem by deadline possible, UN envoy

Following consultations this week in New York, Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Adviser for Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, returned to the island yesterday in time to host a meeting of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, and the Greek Cypriot leader, Glafcos Clerides.

Upon his arrival at the airport, de Soto told reporters that the timing of the Secretary-General's forthcoming trip to the region was no coincidence. "The deadline for the need to complete an agreement by the end of the month is a very real one, and it is not a deadline that has been imposed by the Secretary-General," he said.

The Secretary-General, de Soto added, "believes that a settlement by then is a real possibility and he wants to make every effort that is at his disposal and within his reach to help the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots bring about this goal."

"I am concluding my visit sobered by the challenge at hand, but even more deeply convinced that this is the time to press on and rise to that challenge," Annan had told reporters at Larnaca Airport on his previous visit. "An historic opportunity exists now to reach a comprehensive settlement. There is no doubt in my mind that this would be in the interest of both sides and the region. This opportunity must be seized."