Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders agreed late on Thursday to step up contacts to try to overcome obstacles in the quest to reunite their island, divided for over three decades, U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon said.
After talks with Greek Cypriot president Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, Ban told reporters the two men would aim to work out a "practical plan" for resolving outstanding problems.
The U.N. secretary-general said he planned to meet Christofias and Eroglu again in Geneva at the end of January to seek progress in ending a conflict that is harming Turkey's bid to join the European Union.
"In the meantime, the leaders will identify further convergences and the core issues which still need to be resolved across all chapters," Ban said.
In principle, both sides agree to reunite Cyprus as a federation. But the latest series of U.N.-mediated talks, which started two years ago, are stalled over whether thousands of displaced Cypriots should have the right to regain their properties or be compensated.
The two sides also cannot agree on power-sharing and how much territory each side will retain.
Ban said he had called the two leaders to New York because the talks, mediated by former Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, were "losing momentum" after appearing headed for success earlier in the year.
Flanked by a silent Christophias and Eroglu, Ban lectured them on their need to take the initiative.
"We expect the Cypriot sides to assume their responsibility to drive this process toward a solution," he said. "The people of Cyprus and the international community want a solution, not endless talks."
He then clasped the two leaders' hands for cameras before leading them away without taking questions, citing "the sensitive nature of the discussions."
PROPERTY ISSUE
Last week, Brussels chided Turkey, which started EU membership talks in 2005, for failing to normalize relations with Greek Cypriots. Ankara accuses the EU of failing to ease Turkish Cypriots out of isolation.
Ban said he believed the two leaders understood the need "to move more quickly and decisively" to reach a settlement and had agreed "to work together, as partners."
"Specifically, the leaders agreed today to intensify their contacts in the coming weeks in order to establish a practical plan for overcoming the major remaining points of disagreement," he said.
The thorny property issue stems from the fact that at least 160,000 Greek Cypriots fled their homes in the Turkish invasion of 1974 while some 40,000 Turkish Cypriots fled their homes in inter-communal conflict before that.
An estimated 80% of property in the Turkish Cypriot-controlled north is owned by Greek Cypriots.
Turkish Cypriots favor compensation, saying property restitution sought by Greek Cypriots could upset the balance of a future federation. Greek Cypriots say a political settlement cannot supersede an individual's property rights.
Ban said that, apart from property, Thursday's talks covered other core issues including governance, power-sharing, the economy, EU affairs, territory and security.
