Roundup: Cypriot leaders take their first practical steps towards reunification

The leaders of the divided Greek and Turkish communities of Cyprus took their first steps towards reunification of the eastern Mediterranean island on Thursday, making progress in peace talks for the first time in more than a decade.

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, acting as leader of the Greek Cypriots, and Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci, announced they had agreed on opening two more border crossing points to link the two parts of the island, to merge their respective electricity grids, and to explore practical steps to merge their mobile telephone networks.

United Nations Cyprus emissary Espen Barth Eide said after presiding over a long meeting between the two leaders that they also agreed to start intensifying commerce between the two sides.

They also gave a special committee the task of opening of more crossing points jointly demanded by Greek and Turkish Cypriots living close to the dividing line.

They further issued a joint appeal for information on more than 1,000 people, mostly Greek Cypriots, missing since the 1974 fighting in which Turkish troops took part of Cyprus.

"The two leaders took the next steps towards fulfilling their joint vision of a united federal Cyprus," Eide told journalists after the meeting which lasted four and a half hours.

"Their constructive dialogue included a range of core issues that go to the very heart of the Cyprus question. They underlined, once again, their shared will and determination to reach a comprehensive settlement," he said.

Reunification negotiations were bogged down during the last ten years under a hardliner Turkish Cypriot politician who made no secret of his target to make the division of the island permanent.

Peace negotiations, suspended for seven months, resumed after Akinci, a moderate politician who promised to work for the reunification of Cyprus, swept to victory in the Turkish Cypriot election in April.

"The resumption of talks is a hugely positive step. I believe there is a common vision between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot leaders, and the ambition to make rapid progress," said Turkish Cypriot negotiator Ozdil Nami.

Akinci told journalists after the meeting that he and Anastasiades achieved progress but cautioned that there was still a long way for the two sides to go.

Anastasiades said he was hopeful for a solution which would be in line with European Union principles.

The two leaders have scheduled two meetings in June and two more in July as their negotiators work on the details of issues under discussion. Endit