Appointment paves way for Papadopoulos-Talat meeting

The appointment of Swiss national Kristov Cirotas the third member of the Cyprus Committee for Missing Persons should pave the way for a meeting between President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, possibly as early as this week.

The two men have not met since the failed referendum to reunite the island in April 2004.

The two leaders are expected to meet at the residence of UN representative Michael Moller.

on the Greek Cypirot side, the government spokesman insists that the meeting will cover only issues surrounding persons missing for decades since inter-communal fighting between the two communities.

Efforts are under way to start other talks between the two sides on technical issues, although the two sides have already disagreed about what such technical issues should entail.