Cyprus leaders continue discussion on EU matters

President of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat will meet Friday in the framework of direct negotiations, which began last September, with a view to reach a settlement of the Cyprus problem.

Last week’s meeting was cancelled due to Talat’s meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Paris.

During their meeting, which will take place in the United Nations Protected Area (UNPA) in Nicosia, the two community leaders will continue their discussion on EU matters.

The UN Secretary General's Special Representative in Cyprus Taye Brook Zerihoun had told reporters after the previous meeting that the leaders will continue the discussion on EU matters and will then take up the issue of economic matters. Today's meeting will take place in the presence of the UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser for Cyprus Alexander Downer, who has already arrived in Cyprus.

President Christofias and Talat began direct negotiations in September last year with a view to solve the question of Cyprus, which has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.