Cyprus talks on federal government continue under UN auspices

Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders held further discussions today on the shape of a federal government of a future bi-communal republic as United Nations-backed talks to unify the Mediterranean island picked up pace.

Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat had “a good open discussion” about the competencies of such a government, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer told reporters.

The two have accelerated the pace of their meetings to twice a week this month in the talks to reunify the island, where UN peacekeepers have been deployed since 1964 to prevent inter-communal fighting.

They will meet again twice next week to discuss property matters which Mr. Downer called “one of the very difficult issues.”

Representatives of the two sides will also meet on Thursday to discuss the question of property.