Talks on reunification of Cyprus make headway: UN

The United Nations says negotiations between the rival leaders of Cyprus over reuniting the east Mediterranean island have made considerable “progress” and will resume later this month.

"During these past five days, the chapter on territory and all other issues were discussed interdependently. Significant progress has been achieved," the UN said in a statement released on Friday.

Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart Mustafa Akinci spent the past few days at the Swiss resort of Mont Pelerin trying to resolve one of Europe's longest-running territorial disputes.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who opened the peace talks, said the opposite sides were committed to trying to reach an agreement this year.

Cyprus government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides also confirmed a breakthrough in the discussions, stressing that the goal for a deal by the end of the year remains.

Elsewhere in its statement, the UN said that the two leaders have decided “to take a recess and reconvene in [the Swiss city of] Geneva on Sunday, 20 November 2016, to continue their deliberations from Mont Pelerin.”

Cyprus has been split since 1974, when Turkish forces occupied its northern third in response to a military coup seeking union with Greece.

Some 800,000 Greek Cypriots and about 220,000 Turkish Cypriots live on the island with a UN- patrolled Green Line dividing it.

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