CYPRUS: U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon visits Turkish Cypriot Leader Mehmet Ali Talat on second day of visit

Record ID: 561532

  • Title: CYPRUS: U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon visits Turkish Cypriot Leader Mehmet Ali Talat on second day of visit
  • Date: 2nd February 2010
  • Summary: NICOSIA, CYPRUS (FEBRUARY 1, 2009) (REUTERS) BUFFER ZONE GATES VARIOUS OF UNIFICATION PROTESTERS WITH BANNERS VARIOUS OF BAN WALKING THROUGH BUFFER ZONE WITH U.N. PERSONNEL BAN MEETING LOCAL DIGNITARIES BAN RELEASING BALLOONS BAN WALKING IN BUFFER ZONE U.N. VEHICLES DRIVING AWAY
  • Embargoed: 17th February 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Cyprus
  • Country: Cyprus
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA1ZCQWELLII162WPKS5WMMUQA1
  • Story Text: U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met Turkish Cypriot Leader Mehmet Ali Talat in the divided Cypriot capital of Nicosia on Monday (February 1st) to inject momentum into peace talks between the island's estranged Greeks and Turks.
    Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have been locked in peace talks for the past 16 months. Ban met Christofias on Sunday (January 31) Cyprus was divided in a Turkish invasion in 1974 triggered by a short-lived Greek-inspired coup. Decades-old attempts to resolve the conflict have failed.
    Alexander Downer, a former Australian foreign minister assigned U.N. special envoy for Cyprus, said on Friday progress had been made on some aspects of discussions between the sides on how to co-govern the island in a future peace deal.
    Any agreement between Christofias and Talat has to pass a referendum on both sides of the island.
    Turkey's bid to join the European Union hinges partly on a Cyprus deal. Greek Cypriots represent the island in the bloc and will not agree to Ankara joining until the island's division is resolved.
    Diplomats are concerned chances of a deal could recede if Talat, viewed as a moderate, loses a leadership election in northern Cyprus -- a breakaway state recognised only by Ankara -- in April. A hardliner is leading most opinion polls.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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