Cyprus leaders to meet under UN auspices on Friday

Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot community leader Mehmet Ali Talat are scheduled to meet in Nicosia on Friday in an effort to kick-start the peace talks that were stalled after the Greek Cypriot side rejected the UN peace plan in 2004.

The fresh momentum is widely expected to achieve some results, in particular as regards the opening of two more crossing points – at the bottom of Ledra Street, from where Turkish troops and Greek Cypriot National Guardsmen are expected to withdraw by some 50 metres, and the other at Lymnitis, that will allow a passage in the isolated northwestern area of Tylliria.

The United Nations Forces in Cyprus, UNFICYP, issued an announcement saying that Christofias and Talat will meet under United Nations auspices on March 21, as agreed by their senior aides at a meeting hosted by Special Representative Michael Moller. The meeting will take place in the United Nations Protected Area in Nicosia.

Moller said the encounter between Presidential Commissioner George Iacovou and Talat’s advisor Ozdil Nami “took place in a very cordial and constructive atmosphere and that the aides reached a great degree of convergence on the issues discussed, including on the possible future opening of the Ledra Street crossing”.

In the light of this meeting, President Christofias will give a press conference on Wednesday at the Presidential Palace which will be open to Greek Cypriot, Turkish Cypriot and foreign press representatives.