U.N. Says Cyprus Leaders Progressing toward Peace in 'Near Future'
Rival Cypriot leaders are making progress in United Nations-brokered peace talks aimed at reunifying the long-divided island "in the near future," U.N. envoy Espen Barth Eide said Wednesday.
Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot counterpart Mustafa Akinci met Wednesday, wrapping up six face-to-face meetings in November as part of an intensified process.
In a joint statement on their behalf, Eide said they "have discussed a number of issues in great depth and have made further progress."
"They now feel more hopeful and confident that the outstanding issues could be resolved in the near future."
Anastasiades and Akinci "reiterate their commitment and determination to the process and to finding a comprehensive settlement as soon as possible,” said Eide.
The Norwegian diplomat said they agreed to meet again on December 4, then twice more later in the month.
For the talks to move further, hard decisions must be taken on thorny issues such as territorial adjustments, power sharing and property rights.
And as negotiations approach a crucial stage, international heavyweights will be arriving on the island to encourage the leaders to make game-changing decisions.
Both U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are both expected next month.
The leaders are working on a formula to resolve the issues of property and territorial adjustment to create a reunited, federal Cyprus.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third in response to an Athens-inspired coup seeking union with Greece.
Both leaders know that without a solid compromise on property and territory a solution will be hard to sell to their respective communities.
Any peace accord must be ratified at the ballot box, and there is speculation the U.N. is aiming for a referendum in March.
Long-stalled talks, seen as the last best chance for reunification, were launched on May 15.
Source: Agence France Presse
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