Property issues remain focus of UN-backed talks between Cypriot leaders

Property issues were once again the focus as Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders met today to continue United Nations-backed reunification talks.

Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat held “good and friendly discussions,” the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Cyprus, Tayé-Brook Zerihoun, told reporters after the meeting.

The leaders will meet again on Friday to take up organizational matters, and then again next Tuesday, to discuss citizenship, immigration and asylum, Mr. Zerihoun added.

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

That partnership would comprise a Federal Government with a single international personality, along with a Turkish Cypriot Constituent State and a Greek Cypriot Constituent State, which would be of equal status.

Full-fledged power-sharing negotiations have been taking place since September 2008.