CYPRUS LEADERS HOLD ANOTHER ROUND OF UN-BACKED TALKS

Immigration, citizenship and asylum were again among the key topics of discussion today when Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders held their latest round of United Nations-backed talks on the possible reunification of the Mediterranean island.

Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat held a 90-minute tête-à-tête in Nicosia and then resumed discussions on immigration, asylum and related issues, the Secretary-General's Special Representative Tayé-Brook Zerihoun told journalists.

The two leaders agreed to meet again on 6 August, when they will conclude their deliberations on these topics. Next week they will also discuss the schedule and programme for the resumption of the talks in early September after a break over the August holiday period.

Today's discussions were only the latest round of UN-backed talks between the two leaders aimed at reunifying the island of Cyprus.

In May 2008, Mr. Christofias and Mr. Talat committed themselves to working towards "a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as defined by relevant Security Council resolutions."

The partnership would comprise a Federal Government with a single international personality, along with a Turkish Cypriot Constituent State and a Greek Cypriot Constituent State, which would be of equal status.
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SECURITY THE FOCUS OF LATEST ROUND OF UN-BACKED TALKS BETWEEN CYPRIOT LEADERS

Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders held another round of United Nations-backed talks today, discussing security and guarantees as part of their efforts to try to reach a solution that will unify the Mediterranean island.

Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat met in Nicosia and made introductory statements on the issue of security and guarantees, according to Tayé-Brook Zerihoun, the Secretary-General's Special Representative and the head of the UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus (known as UNFICYP).

The two leaders agreed to devote their next meeting, scheduled for 17 July, to the same issue, Mr. Zerihoun told journalists after today's round of talks.

On Tuesday Mr. Zerihoun told a panel discussion in Nicosia on the role of civil society that it was not possible to speak of a single "Cypriot civil society" given the continuing division of the island.

But he said the civil societies on both sides of the divide "have persevered in their commitment to work together to foster trust and understanding between the communities and help achieve peace and reconciliation. Indeed, civil society groups have at various times in the past few decades provided the only channels for communication and contact between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

"Today, happily, we face a different situation: there is a reinvigorated peace process, bi-communal contact is no longer the exception and it has become much easier for Cypriots today to move around the island."

Mr. Zerihoun said that hopes for a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus remain low among the public on both sides, and therefore civil society has a valuable role to play to ensuring the success of the peace process.

"Civil society organizations can help communicate to people on both sides the potential benefits of a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem. And once, as we all hope and expect, a settlement is achieved, active participation of civil society groups will be essential to making it sustainable."
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CYPRIOT LEADERS RESUME UN-LED TALKS ON PROPERTY

CYPRIOT LEADERS RESUME UN-LED TALKS ON PROPERTY
New York, Feb 25 2009 4:00PM

Focusing on the issue of property, the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders resumed talks today as part of United Nations-sponsored negotiations aimed at reunifying the Mediterranean island.

Greek Cypriot leader, Dimitris Christofias, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat, met today in Nicosia, where they had a nearly two-hour tête-à-tête followed by discussions on the criteria for setting the property issue.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Cyprus, Tayé-Brook Zerihoun, said that the leaders have decided to continue these discussions next Thursday, 5 March.

After property, the next item of discussion will be matters concerning the European Union, he added.

In May 2007 the Cypriot leaders committed to a partnership that will comprise a Federal Government with a single international identity, as well as a Turkish Cypriot Constituent State and a Greek Cypriot Constituent State which will be of equal status.
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