Cypriot leaders say they aim at Cyprus reunification within 2016

Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders engaged in talks for a solution to the Cyprus problem say they aim a reunification of the island within 2016, despite concerns for a possible derailment of the process after the setting up of a nationalist so-called government in the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus.

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci said after a night meeting on Tuesday that they made further progress on the crucial issue of power sharing and the properties issue, press reports said on Wednesday.

"We made some additions to the positive developments and we continue our work. Our aim is to reach a solution within 2016," Akinci said after the four-hour negotiating session.

"We had a very good meeting. Some progress has been achieved (on some points) and this is very satisfactory," Anastasiades said.

He added that he did not note any change in Akinci's stance due to internal political developments in the occupied north of Cyprus.

"Not at all, on the contrary," he said.

He was commenting on concerns that Akinci may face internal opposition from a new nationalist so-called government which is expected to assume office later this week in the breakaway northern part of the island.

The two Cypriot communities were split apart when Turkey occupied the northern part of the eastern Mediterranean island in 1974, reacting to a coup organized by the military rulers of Greece at the time. Endit