Cyprus leaders hold first of two "intensified" meetings

Nicosia, 8 September 2010 -- The leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, Demetris Christofias and Dervis Eroglu, today held their first of two “intensified" talks at the UN Protected Area where they continued discussions on the property issue as part of the UN-facilitated process aimed at reunifying the island.

Today’s discussions, which took place at the newly refurbished UNFICYP Chief of Mission’s residence, follows the exchange of papers by both sides earlier in the week containing a list of their proposals on the property question and how to resolve this issue.

Speaking at the end of today’s meeting, Alexander Downer, the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on Cyprus, noting the importance of full-day meetings and recalling the “good work” achieved by the leaders the last time they met under such circumstances, told the media that “it’s very helpful every so often to have this intensification at the talks”. Responding to a journalist's question, he added: “These are two important days”.

The two leaders are set to meet again for another full-day meeting on Friday, 10 September.

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