After decades of failed peace initiatives, Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias launched reunification talks last September. Negotiations have so far failed to resolve key differences over power-sharing, property and the future of 35,000 Turkish troops currently stationed in the Turkish north; however, Ban was upbeat.
"During the last 30-year-long conflict period, I think we have seen in [the] last several months the most encouraging developments of the situation through very frequent bilateral talks between the two leaders," the secretary-general said.
"And they have made significant progress, which we have not been able to see during the last three decades," he added.
During approximately 40 meetings, Ban said, Christofias and Talat have completed a first round of discussions on many important subjects including security and property issues. "They have taken many important, encouraging steps, which have been very much appreciated by the international community," Ban said.
Earlier this month, Christofias said a reunification deal can be reached soon if Turkish Cypriots agree to a united Cyprus as a single sovereign federation instead of a partnership of separate states. Talat has expressed hope that an agreement can be hammered out by December, which the US says it would also like to see. But Christofias has said he and Talat had agreed to negotiations without outside mediation or deadlines.
