Roundup: "Encouraging progress" in reunification negotiations: Cypriot community leaders

There has been "encouraging progress" on the issues under discussion in the negotiations aiming to reunify Cyprus, the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities reported separately on Thursday.

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, who is leader of the Greek community, and Mustafa Akinci, leader of the Turkish community, made their statements to reporters after yet another meeting in the framework of their intensified negotiations.

"I must say that there has been encouraging, important progress on the issue of internal cooperation between the federal government and the constituent states," said Anastasiades at his office after a four-hour meeting.

Anastasiades and Akinci are trying to reunify Cyprus under a federal system. The eastern Mediterranean island has been partitioned since 1974 after Turkey occupied its northern part, reacting to a coup engineered by the military rulers of Greece at the time.

"There is progress on the four chapters under discussion," said Akinci upon returning to the Turkish Cypriot part of the capital Nicosia.

The two leaders are currently engaged in discussing the powers of a central federal government and those of the Greek and Turkish constituent states.

One of the thorniest issues is the legal status of "international" treaties signed between a breakaway state in the occupied part of Cyprus and Turkey, the only country to recognize it.

Anastasiades said they aimed to ascertain which of these so-called treaties contradict Cyprus's position as a member of the European Union.

"We are on a good track," said Anastasiades.

The leaders agreed to meet a total of six times in July.

Anastasiades said they could not arrange more meetings as there were several religious holidays and also events to commemorate Turkey's military action that led to the partial occupation of Cyprus in July, 1974. Endit