UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon has welcomed “the positive and constructive spirit demonstrated by the leaders” of the two communities in Cyprus, “as well as their commitment to intensify the pace of the leaders’ meetings in the months to come, in order to reach a settlement as soon as possible”, a Secretary General`s spokeperson said in a statement, after the meeting which Ban had in New York with the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci.
According to the spokesperson, Ban and Akici discussed “the significant progress made by the Turkish Cypriot and the Greek Cypriot leaders since the resumption of the negotiations aimed at achieving a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus”
The spokesperson also said that the Secretary General and Akinci discussed the involvement of the Guarantor Powers in the process.
“The Secretary General assured Akıncı of his personal and the United Nations’ steadfast commitment of continuing to facilitate the efforts of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders in the talks,” the spokesperson added.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied its northern third. UN-backed talks between Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Akinci began in May this year, with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof.
CNA/AZ/TNE/MK/2015
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY