UN Secretary General Ban Ki moon arrived at 0915 local time at the Le Mirador Resort and Spa in Mont-Pelerin, where intensified negotiations between Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci on the territory issue and all other outstanding issues interdependently kick off today, in the framework of UN-led talks aiming to solve the Cyprus problem.
Ban was welcomed at the venue by his Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide and his Special Representative in Cyprus Elizabeth Spehar.
A meeting between Ban and the two leaders was scheduled to begin at 0940 local time. At 1010 Ban will make remarks to the press.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Anastasiades and Akinci have been engaged in UN-led talks since May last year, with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof.
CNA/MK/ΜΜ/2016
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY