Cyprus Community leaders begin talks

The fourth meeting of the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus started on Monday in the UN protected area, the UN announced.

“Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat will meet in the United Nations Protected Area of Nicosia (UNPA) on Monday, 13 October 2008, starting at 10 a.m., in the offices next to the UNDP building in the UNPA” a UN statement said.

Alexander Downer, UN Secretary General’s special adviser for Cyprus, had said after Friday’s meeting that the leaders discussed the issue of the powers of the federal government and made progress.

He had also said that the leaders began discussions about the structure of the federal executive and both sides made proposals and those discussions will continue next Monday.

President Christofias and Talat began talks in early September with a view to find a negotiated settlement that will reunite Cyprus, which has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.