Greek Cypriot president Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu held talks on July 28 2010 on property issues on the divided island in a resumption of United Nations-backed negotiations on the future of Cyprus.
The talks are due to resume on July 30.
The property aspect of the talks tries to resolve numerous complex claims between the two sides on property seized decades ago, the UN News Service said.
Cyprus has been divided for decades following a 1974 invasion by Turkey, in response to an attempted coup on Cyprus, that left as its legacy a Turkish-occupied segment of the island, a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" that is recognised only by Ankara.
The July 28 two-hour meeting between Christofias and Eroglu took place in a "very good atmosphere," Alexander Downer, special adviser on Cyprus to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, told journalists.
The two leaders are to meet on August 4 and 10 for further talks about the future of the island.
In June, UN Secretary-General Ban urged Eroglu to "grasp the current political window of opportunity to reach a settlement" in the Cyprus dispute.
"The Secretary-General encouraged Mr. Eroglu to grasp the current political window of opportunity to reach a settlement," according to the UN spokesperson’s office. "He hoped that the two leaders would make serious advances in the coming months, understanding that this would require compromises on both sides."
Eroglu voiced his commitment to reaching a settlement, adding he believed it could be achieved this year with goodwill and compromises from both sides.
Also in June, the UN Security Council extended the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus, known as UNFICYP, for an additional six months. The mission was set up in March 1964 following the outbreak of violence between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.
http://www.sofiaecho.com/2010/07/29/939 ... rus-resume
