CYPRUS LEADERS DISCUSS EXECUTIVE OF UNITED COUNTRY AT UN-BACKED TALKS

Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders today discussed issues related to the election of the president and vice president of a united republic as they continued United Nations-backed talks on unifying the Mediterranean island.

Both sides put forward new "bridging proposals," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer told journalists following the talks between Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat in Nicosia.

But he declined to give any details. "I think you will understand and respect the fact that these sorts of negotiations work best if the leaders are able to discuss these things with a degree of privacy," he said, noting that the discussions on the proposals, which followed earlier disagreement on the issue, will continue next week.

"We are pleased with the way it's progressing," he added.

UN peacekeepers have been deployed since 1964 to prevent inter-communal fighting on the island. In May last year, 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.

After today's talks the two leaders attended a reception for Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot artists whose works, produced with UN backing, adorn the walls of the world body's premises in Nicosia, including the room where the two leaders met.

CYPRUS LEADERS MAKE GOOD PROGRESS IN UNITY TALKS, UN ENVOY REPORTS

The United Nations reported "good progress" in the latest round of talks today between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders in efforts to unify the Mediterranean island.

Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat discussed issues of citizenship, aliens, immigration and asylum and will focus on governance and the executive at their next meeting on 3 September in the UN-backed talks. They will also revisit areas where points of disagreement have arisen in previous discussions.

"Certainly, from the perspective of the United Nations, we would say that this is good progress, and it shows that there has been significant progress in these negotiations," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer told journalists following today's meeting at the UN-protected area in Nicosia.

Other issues yet to be discussed include property on the island, where UN peacekeepers have been deployed since 1964 to prevent fighting between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.

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."
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CYPRUS LEADERS DISCUSS SECURITY DURING LATEST ROUND OF UN-BACKED TALKS

CYPRUS LEADERS DISCUSS SECURITY DURING LATEST ROUND OF UN-BACKED TALKS
New York, Jul 17 2009 3:00PM
Security was again the focus during the latest round of United Nations-backed talks today between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders as they 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 for several hours of discussions, the Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alexander Downer, told journalists.

"Next week, the leaders will continue to discuss security and they will also discuss… governance and power-sharing, and in the context of governance and power-sharing they will discuss aliens, immigration, asylum and citizenship," Mr. Downer said.

He said the leaders also briefly discussed the mechanics of an agreement on the opening of a crossing between the two sides.

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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