Cyprus leaders make good progress in unity talks, UN envoy reports

The United Nations reported “good progress” in the latest round of talks today between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders in efforts to unify the Mediterranean island.

Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat discussed issues of citizenship, aliens, immigration and asylum and will focus on governance and the executive at their next meeting on 3 September in the UN-backed talks. They will also revisit areas where points of disagreement have arisen in previous discussions.

“Certainly, from the perspective of the United Nations, we would say that this is good progress, and it shows that there has been significant progress in these negotiations,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer told journalists following today’s meeting at the UN-protected area in Nicosia.

Other issues yet to be discussed include property on the island, where UN peacekeepers have been deployed since 1964 to prevent fighting between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.

In May 2008, Mr. Christofias and Mr. Talat committed themselves to working towards “a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as defined by relevant Security Council resolutions.”