Discussions between Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci on the key property issue began on Tuesday morning.
The meeting, which began at 9am (Cyprus time) and is scheduled to last until 1pm, will deal exclusively with the property issue, with a view to preparing discussions on territory, expected to officially begin on Wednesday morning.
Talks between Anastasiades and Akinci on the pending issues concerning the four chapters already discussed (governance, property, economy, EU), which are interrelated with the territory issue, were held on Monday night.
Anastasiades and Akinci held a three-hour meeting on Monday as they began their Mont Pelerin, Switzerland-based talks.
During each meeting, UN Special Adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, both sides’ negotiators, Andreas Mavroyiannis and Ozdil Nami, and experts from both sides are also attending.
UN chief Ban Ki-Moon opened the talks on Monday and expressed his optimism that a solution to the Cyprus Problem before 2017 was “within reach”.
US SUPPORT
After Monday’s talks a US State Department Spokesperson said their country expressed “support to the efforts to reach a comprehensive solution which will reunify the island as a bizonal, bicommunal federation,” reported CNA English.
“We are aware that UN-backed peace talks began in Switzerland,” added the Spokesperson. “The US fully supports the UN-facilitated process under UN Special Adviser Espen Barth Eide.”
Additionally, the Spokesperson was quoted as saying: “We are very encouraged by the progress Cypriot leaders have made this year,” also pointing out that “our focus is on supporting efforts by the parties to reach a comprehensive settlement which would benefit all Cypriots as well as the wider region.”
BACKGROUND
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and illegally occupied 37 per cent of its territory.
Anastasiades and Akinci have been engaged in UN-led talks since May 2015, with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof.
Both leaders are scheduled to be in Switzerland until Friday, concentrating on territory and other interdependent issues.
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