Cypriot leaders agree to start negotiations on September 3

Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat decided today to start full-fledged negotiations on September 3, with the aim to reach a ''mutually accepted solution to the Cyprus problem which will safeguard the fundamental and legitimate rights and interests of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots''.

A joint statement read out by UN SG Special Representative to Cyprus Taye Brook Zerihoun noted that the solution would be put to separate simultaneous referenda.

This was the two leaders' fourth meeting, during which they undertook a final review of the technical committees and working groups, set up after their first meeting on March 21.