Chinese ambassador briefed by Cypriot president on resumption of negotiations

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades on Monday briefed Chinese Ambassador to Nicosia Liu Xinsheng on the resumption of peace negotiations between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, a presidential palace spokesman said.

The briefing was part of a campaign by Anastasiades to inform the ambassadors of the five United Nations Security Council permanent member countries on the resumption of the talks after a suspension of more than six months and enlist their support in efforts to solve the long-standing Cyprus problem.

Negotiations for a Cyprus settlement were restarted in earnest a week ago following the election of moderate politician Mustafa Akinci as leader of the Turkish Cypriot community.

The United Nations, which have been facilitating the negotiations for almost half a century, have said that both the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities have their best ever chance of reaching a settlement reunifying the eastern Mediterranean island. Endit