UN official says leaders’ meeting on Cyprus problem very good

The UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer has said that the leaders of the two communities discussed deadlock resolving mechanisms, among other issues, during their meeting on Friday in the framework of direct talks to solve the Cyprus problem, noting that ''it was a very good meeting and good progress was made.''

Speaking after the meeting, Downer said the leaders of the two communities will meet again on January 20 and will start discussing the issue of property.

He added that the leaders' aides will meet again next week and will start a preliminary discussion on property.

President of the Republic Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have been engaged in direct negotiations since early September last year, aiming at reunifying the island, divided since the Turkish invasion of 1974.