UN-Backed Talks On Reunification Of Cyprus Going Well, Says Senior Official
New York, Oct 22 2008 1:10PM
The leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities continued their talks today on the reunification of the
Mediterranean island, focusing the discussion on the composition of a new executive branch of government, according to a
senior United Nations official.
Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat heard from their two
representatives on the follow-up meeting held last week – after their regular weekly meeting – to help explain and
clarify each party’s position on the question of the federal executive.
“The Leaders then took up the issue themselves and had a constructive exchange of views,” the Special Representative of
the Secretary General Tayé-Brook Zerihoun told reporters after the meeting.
“[They] then directed their representatives to carry on these discussions next Thursday,” Mr. Zerihoun added at the
press briefing in Nicosia.
Today’s talks, the latest in a series of weekly meetings under the sponsorship of the UN, included a preliminary
discussion on the legislature that will continue when the two leaders meet on 3 November.
In May, Mr. Christofias and Mr. Talat committed to a partnership that will comprise a Federal Government with a single
international identity, along with a Turkish Cypriot Constituent State and a Greek Cypriot Constituent State, which will
be of equal status. The full-fledged negotiations between the leaders began last month with discussions on the issues of
governance and power sharing.
ENDS