Annan meets with Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders in bid to finalize deal

In a final push to reach an agreement that would enable a reunited Cyprus to join the European Union (EU) later this year, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today met with the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders for face-to-face talks on the issue.

Mr. Annan met with the Greek Cypriot leader, Glafcos Clerides, the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, and the incoming Greek Cypriot leader, Tassos Papadopoulos, for 45 minutes. This was the first meeting held between Mr. Papadopoulos and Mr. Denktash in the context of the talks.

The meeting held at the office of Mr. Annan's Special Adviser, Alvaro de Soto, was suspended to allow each side to hold its own consultations. All parties agreed to meet again with the Secretary-General tomorrow morning.

After the meeting, Mr. Annan conferred with his senior advisers before he departed for the residence of the chief of the UN mission in Cyprus, Zbigniew Wlosowicz, where he met with the leader of the Progressive Party for Working People (AKEL), Dimitris Christofias.

Later on, Mr. Wlosowicz, on Mr. Annan's behalf, hosted a luncheon attended by 13 leaders of the island's political parties. Mr. Annan was expected to drop by later at an exhibition given by Greek and Turkish Cypriot artists at the hotel where he is staying.