Turkish, Greek Cypriot leaders hold talks under UN auspices

Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades met on Tuesday at the UN's Good Offices to continue the Cyprus talks, a UN spokesman told reporters here.

"There was a good discussion between the sides on several outstanding issues, even if several differences remain," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here.

The talks was under the auspices of the UN secretary-general's special adviser Espen Barth Eide.

The leaders have scheduled two more meetings to be held on May 11 and May 17, he said. "We hope that they will do their utmost to move the process forward decisively in the crucial weeks ahead."

The United Nations has been involved in solving the Cyprus problem, trying to keep the peace and promote a political settlement for more than 45 years.

Cyprus was divided in 1974 when Turkey occupied its northern part in reaction to a coup by the Greek Cypriot natioanlists in an attempt to incorporate Cyprus into Greece.

The leaders of both Greek and Turkish communities of Cyprus have said that after four decades of negotiations, they are close to a solution by the end of this year, provided they can overcome difficulties in agreeing on security arrangements and the withdrawal of Turkish troops from Cyprus. Endit