Ban spends second day at UN-backed Cyprus reunification talks

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is meeting again today in New York with the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities in their latest round of talks aimed at reunifying the divided Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus.

The talks at the Greentree Estate on Long Island between the Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart, Dervis Eroglu, got off to an “intensive” start yesterday with Mr. Ban making it clear to both parties that he expects them to make progress during the current round of the process, which began in 2008.

“The Secretary-General made his expectations clear this morning that he is looking for the leaders to make decisive moves,” his Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alexander Downer, told reporters last night.

“He also reminded the two leaders that they must keep the big vision of a united Cyprus in their sights,” said Mr. Downer.

The focus of yesterday’s deliberations was on three of the core issues in the negotiations – the executive, property and citizenship. “There is clearly still ground to cover in order to make for a successful outcome for this meeting,” he said.

In 2008, both sides agreed to work towards “a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as defined by relevant Security Council resolutions.” The partnership will comprise a Federal Government with a single international personality, along with a Turkish Cypriot Constituent State and a Greek Cypriot Constituent State, which will be of equal status.