The President French

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council is meeting in accordance with the understanding reached in its prior consultations.

After consultations among members of the Security Council, I have been authorized to make the following statement on behalf of the Council:

"The Security Council warmly welcomes the launch of fully-fledged negotiations between the two leaders, under the Good Offices Mission of the Secretary-General, aimed at the reunification of Cyprus.

"The Security Council commends the two leaders for the progress made since their first meeting on 21 March and supports their common approach. The Security Council calls on both sides to continue to work together in a constructive and positive manner in order to reach a comprehensive and durable settlement approved in separate and simultaneous referendums. The Security Council looks forward to progress in the negotiations and reiterates its readiness to support the process.

"The Security Council welcomes the appointment of Alexander Downer as the Secretary-General's Special Adviser and looks forward to being briefed on the progress of the Good Offices process."

This statement will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2008/34.

The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.