Cyprus Leaders to discuss Limnitis issue

President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat will meet on Thursday morning in the framework of direct negotiations which began last September with a view to reach a solution in Cyprus and reunify the island.

UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser for Cyprus, Alexander Downer, will be attending today's meeting.

During their last meeting, on May 14th, the leaders discussed economy issues. Tomorrow, they are expected to decide on joint papers on economic matters.

They also exchanged views on the opening of a crossing point, at Limnitis, on the north east, to facilitate movement to and from the island’s northern Turkish occupied areas.

In statements after the last leaders' meeting, President Christofias had said he expected an answer from the Turkish Cypriot leader concerning the opening of Limnitis crossing point, at their next meeting, tomorrow.

The government of Cyprus has pledged it is ready to open the crossing point to facilitate free movement but the Turkish Cypriot side has asked for the supply of electricity in the area of Kokkina as well as fuel in order to give its consent to the opening of the crossing point.

Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

President Christofias and Talat have been engaged in direct negotiations since September 2008 with an aim to reach a solution of the Cyprus problem and reunite the island.