UN-led talks aiming to solve the Cyprus problem resume today Friday, and the leaders of the two communities, namely President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, meet at the UN Protected Area in Nicosia, in the presence of UN Secretary General`s Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide.
The leaders met on Monday, during a dinner hosted by Eide, who announced the resumption of the talks after the conclusion of the dinner.
The UNSG has welcomed the resumption of the talks and called on the leaders to seize this opportunity. According to a statement by his spokesman, “the Secretary-General welcomes the resumption of full-fledged negotiations between the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci scheduled for 15 May 2015 under the facilitation of his Special Adviser, Espen Barth Eide”.
“With the momentum continuing to build for a solution to the long-standing division of the island, the Secretary-General salutes the commitment of the leaders to move forward without delay, in a constructive and dedicated manner, as expressed during the dinner hosted by Special Adviser Eide on 11 May 2015”, the spokesperson noted.
“The Secretary-General calls on the leaders to seize this opportunity to achieve tangible progress towards a comprehensive settlement that would clearly benefit both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The Secretary-General reiterates his commitment to supporting the leaders in their efforts to achieve a mutually agreed comprehensive settlement based on the Joint Declaration of 11 February 2014 and in line with relevant UN Security Council resolutions”, the statement read.
Government sources have told CNA that today`s meeting will focus on the procedure and the structure of the talks as well as the frequency of the meetings of the two leaders and the two negotiators.
The Greek Cypriot side has expressed cautious optimism in light of the meeting, since it appears that there are common points between the two sides. However, government sources have pointed out that the willingness for a solution will be proven at the negotiating table.
“There is room for optimism, judging by the discussions we have had so far”, they told the Cyprus News Agency.
Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion. Previous UN-backed talks, aiming to reunite the island under a federal roof, have failed to yield results.
Anastasiades suspended in October 2014, his participation in the peace talks aiming to reunite the island, following a Navigational Telex or NAVTEX, issued by Turkey, as Turkish seismic research vessel “Barbaros” violated the Republic’s Exclusive Economic Zone. The Turkish NAVTEX, that was renewed in January 2015, expired on April 6 and Barbaros left Cyprus` EEZ.