Cyprus talks resume under pressure
United Nations-mediated talks aimed at reunifying Cyprus were to resume on Monday in Nicosia between Cyprus President Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu ahead with the two community leaders? scheduled meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in New York later this month.
According to Turkey?s Anadolu News Agency, Ban has sent a letter to both Christofias and Eroglu in which he notes that the two men are entering the final phase of negotiations. According to Anadolu?s report, which cites unnamed diplomatic sources, the UN chief sets Nicosia?s scheduled assumption of the European Union presidency ? on July 1 ? as the deadline for a settlement to the Cyprus problem.
Both Christofias and Eroglu have expressed their intention to reach a settlement to the island’s division but each accuses the other side of intransigence.
