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The leaders of the two communities in Cyprus will determine the process with which they will intensify the peace talks they are involved in at a meeting in July, in Cyprus, according to diplomatic sources, close to the Greek Cypriot side, which appears pleased with Thursday's meeting, as the UN Secretary General reiterated that the basis of the talks continues to be UN Resolution 1251.
According to sources, the Greek Cypriot side insists that the talks continue to be Cypriot owned and are conducted on the basis described in UN Security Council resolutions.
The talks are expected to be intensified in the form of day-long discussions over two days. The dates and their duration have not yet been decided, however, a new meeting with the UN Secretary General is expected to take place late in October in New York.
The same sources indicated that the UN chief respects the position of the Greek Cypriot side that no timetable and no arbitration must be imposed. During Thursday's meeting in Geneva, the issue of an international conference on the Cyprus problem was not discussed in detail, with the Greek Cypriot side insisting that such a meeting cannot take place unless ''we are within range of an agreement.''
''There was no surprise for anybody at today's meeting'' on the territorial issue, contrary to press reports, which have suggested otherwise, the sources said, adding that each side outlined its positions on the matter. The UN Secretary General believes, they noted, that territorial and property issues cannot but be linked, a position Ban Ki Moon has upheld since November last year and repeated during his telephone conversations with both community leaders in April.
Asked if the Turkish Cypriot leader has committed himself to discuss the two issues, namely territory and property, together, the same sources noted that Dervis Eroglu does commit himself easily in the presence of the UN Secretary General, as he has done in the past, but it remains to be seen whether this commitment will be met by the Turkish Cypriot leader.
The same sources have pointed out that the two sides are close to an agreement on police matters before the Geneva meeting, in which ''the Turkish Cypriot side must show understanding.'' Questioning what has already been agreed with the former Turkish Cypriot leader does not help the negotiating process, the sources remarked.
The United Nations have offered assistance through experts, without any reference to all the topics of discussion. The process through which talks will be intensified will be agreed on all chapters, with the Greek Cypriot side suggesting that the enhanced talks could start with the issue of governance, the sources said.
According to the sources, the UN Secretary General's Special Advisor, during Thursday's meeting, referred to earlier points of agreement, reached between President Demetris Christofias and former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, and asked that during the intensive talks it must be made clear that the leaders are talking about a bizonal bicommunal federation with a single sovereignty and citizenship.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. The leaders of the two communities are currently engaged in UN-led negotiations with an aim to reunify the island.

http://famagusta-gazette.com/source-cyp ... 385-69.htm