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Cyprus: UN-backed talks adjourned until later this month

Cyprus: UN-backed talks adjourned until later this month

Special Adviser Alexander Downer (R) with Demetris Christofias and Dervis Eroglu
United Nations-backed talks aimed at reunifying the Mediterranean island of Cyprus continued in Nicosia today before the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities adjourned the discussions until 31 August when they will continue to try to resolve the property issue.

United Nations-backed talks aimed at reunifying the Mediterranean island of Cyprus continued in Nicosia today before the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities adjourned the discussions until 31 August when they will continue to try to resolve the property issue.

“They had a good discussion about that [property] issue and they will be coming back at the end of the month with more to say about it,” Alexander Downer, the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on Cyprus, told reporters after the Turkish Cypriot leader Derviş Eroğlu and his Greek Cypriot counterpart Demetris Christofias adjourned the talks.

“I have said all along that I very much hope that the two sides will be able to negotiate a conclusion, and we in the United Nations will do everything we reasonably can to try to help them achieve that objective,” Mr. Downer added.

The talks began in 2008 after the then leaders of the two communities committed themselves to working towards a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality, as defined by relevant Security Council resolutions.

The property aspect of the talks tries to resolve numerous complex claims between the two sides on property seized decades ago.