CYPRUS: UN envoy back on the island next week

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades will hold talks with UN envoy Jane Holl Lute on February 3 in efforts to breathe new life into dormant reunification talks in limbo since July 2017.

According to a statement by government spokesman Prodromos Prodromou, the President had a telephone conversation with Lute on Sunday.

During their telephone conversation it was agreed that Anastasiades will receive Lute on February 3, at 18.30 local time (16.30 GMT) at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia.

Lute is expected to return to Cyprus, in an effort to agree the terms of reference that will lead to the resumption of peace talks.

A meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci will also be scheduled during her latest round of shuttle diplomacy.

 Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results over the past 45 years.

The last round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana, ended in failure.