Cypriot leaders focus on immigration and citizenship in UN-backed talks

The Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders met today to continue discussions on immigration, citizenship and asylum as part of the ongoing United Nations-backed, power-sharing negotiations.

Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat held “very fruitful discussions,” the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Cyprus, Tayé-Brook Zerihoun, told reporters at the UN-protected area in Nicosia after the meeting.

The leaders are slated to meet again next Tuesday to take up scheduling matters, and again on Thursday. Their representatives have tentatively agreed to convene next Wednesday and Friday to discuss the economy and property issues, Mr. Zerihoun added.

In September 2008, Mr. Christofias and Mr. Talat began these talks aimed at achieving “a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality as defined by relevant Security Council resolutions” for the Mediterranean Island.

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.