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Roundup: Cypriot community leaders agree to meet in Switzerland to tackle outstanding issues

Xinhua, October 27, 2016 Adjust font size:

The leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities of the partitioned island of Cyprus have agreed to meet in Switzerland early in November to discuss all outstanding issues in the quest of a reunification agreement, the United Nations(UN) in Cyprus said late Wednesday night.

In a statement issued by the UN after a five-hour night meeting of the leaders that lasted almost till midnight, they said they decided to continue their Cyprus talks in Mont Pelerin, Switzerland, from November 7 to 11, under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General's special adviser on Cyprus, Mr.Espen Barth Eide.

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci have been negotiating since May 2015 on an agreement that will reunify Cyprus and re-integrate the Turkish Cypriots.

They have been living in seclusion in the part of Cyprus occupied by Turkish troops in 1974, in reaction to a coup by the military rulers of Greece.

"The meeting will concentrate on the chapter of territory as well as all other outstanding issues interdependently. The leaders expressed their hope that their meeting in Switzerland will pave the way for the last phase of the talks in line with their shared commitment to do their utmost in order to reach a settlement within 2016," the United Nations statement said.

The main object of the five-day long negotiating session in Switzerland is to discuss territorial adjustments, mainly the return of excess territory occupied by Turkish troops under Greek Cypriot control.

But they will also tackle the related issue of the return of properties, mostly of Greek Cypriots, abandoned by their owners during the two phases of the Turkish action in July and August 1974.

"The aim is to discuss the territory issue but also any other possible outstanding issues," Anastasiades told reporters who waited outside his official residence.

Akinci said that they will also clear up other issues, such as power sharing in a federal state.

The Turkish side is expected to cede territory in exchange for a bigger share in governance.

The Cypriot leaders opted to move their negotiations abroad taking with them their negotiating teams and expected, so as to avoid potentially damaging leaks and reaction when discussion will be done on specific areas.

Akinci gave an optimistic note saying that he would dare state that the two sides are nearing the end of the road. Endit