Cyprus leaders to dicuss property issue

President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat will meet again on Monday in the framework of the ongoing UN-led direct negotiations for a solution to the Cyprus problem, during which they will continue discussion on the chapter of property.

The meeting will start at 1600 local time and will take place in the UN Protected Area of Nicosia.

Speaking to the press after the last meeting of the leaders on October 27, Alexander Downer, UN Secretary-General Special Adviser on the Cyprus problem said that the two leaders will discuss again the chapter of property and will discuss the criteria concerning this issue, which he described as ''one of the most difficult issues'' of the Cyprus problem.

Property was also discussed on October 22. In statements after the meeting on October 22, President Demetris Christofias had said that the Greek Cypriot side and the Turkish Cypriot side maintain their positions on matters of principle regarding the chapter of properties.

He added that the only common position of both sides on the chapter of properties is that owners are recognised as such but the Greek Cypriot side gives priority to the owner, whereas the Turkish Cypriot side to the current user.

Christofias and Talat began UN-led talks in September 2008 in a bid to achieve a mutually agreed solution to the problem of Cyprus, divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

The two leaders have entered the second phase of the talks for the ''second reading'' of the six chapters of the Cyprus problem, namely, governance and power-sharing, property, EU matters, economic matters, territory and security and guarantees.