Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders discuss security issues in reunification talks

Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders discuss security issues in reunification talks

2011-03-31 02:07:54 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders on Wednesday discussed internal security issues in the United Nations-sponsored reunification talks.

Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart, Dervis Eroglu, met again to resume the talks that seek to reunify the Mediterranean island, which has been split for almost 50 years.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative for Cyprus Lisa Buttenheim also attended the meeting and said that the two leaders met in a 'friendly and constructive atmosphere.'

Christofias and Eroglu have met for over 90 times since the UN-backed talks began in 2008. The meetings are aimed at setting up a federal government with a single international personality in a bi-zonal, bi-communal country, with Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot constituent states of equal status.

In January, Secretary-General Ban met with both Cypriot leaders in Geneva. He remarked that if substantive agreement is not reached within the next few months, "a critical window of opportunity is rapidly closing."

One of the major issues that have been disputed concerns property. The Greek Cypriots alleged that people with property in the northern part of the island should be able to seek reinstatement.

On the other hand, Turkish Cypriots said that if all property owners were allowed reinstatement, it would be impossible for Turkish Cypriots to secure bizonality. Greek Cypriots demanded a home for those who can have properties reinstated instead of compensation.

Cyprus, a Mediterranean island, has been divided since inter-communal violence erupted in 1964. The United Nations has maintained a peacekeeping mission since known as UNFICY. It currently has nearly 1,000 uniformed personnel and 150 international and national civilian staff.

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