The leaders of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities are set to announce later today a date for the resumption of the UN-led peace talks, with a view to finding a political settlement that will reunite the country.
Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci are joining UN SG`s Special Adviser Espen Barth Eide for dinner, on Monday evening, at the Ledra Palace hotel, in the UN-controlled buffer zone.
The dinner, which is hosted by the UN, is scheduled to start at 20.00 local time (17.00 GMT)
The Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis and the Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ozdil Nami will join the leaders and Eide for dinner, after the three men conclude their private meeting.
Present at the dinner, apart from Eide on the part of the UN, is expected to be the UN Secretary General`s Special Representative in Cyprus Lisa Buttenheim.
President Anastasiades is likely to convene a meeting of the National Council, the top advisory body to the Presiden ton the Cyprus issue, next week.
The Republic of Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded. It still occupies 37% of this EU Mediterranean country, despite repeated calls by international and European organizations to withdraw its troops from the island. UN-backed talks are expected to begin in the coming days with the aim to reunite the island under a federal roof.
CNA/EPH/MM/2015
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY