The rival leaders of ethnically divided Cyprus have signaled their willingness to support a request from United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to explore the possibility of reviving dormant reunification talks, the U.N. said Tuesday. The two leaders agreed to “positively respond” to the U.N. chief’s call for an informal meeting that would “in a conducive climate” and “at an appropriate stage” test the waters for a possible return to talks after a 3 1/2-year hiatus, U.N. spokesman Aleem Siddique said in a written statement. The statement came after a two-hour meeting between the island nation’s Greek Cypriot president, Nicos Anastasiades, and Ersin Tatar, the newly elected leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots.
The rival leaders of ethnically divided Cyprus have signaled their willingness to support a request from United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to explore the possibility of reviving dormant reunification talks, the U.N. said Tuesday. The two leaders agreed to “positively respond” to the U.N. chief’s call for an informal meeting that would “in a conducive climate” and “at an appropriate stage” test the waters for a possible return to talks after a 3 1/2-year hiatus, U.N. spokesman Aleem Siddique said in a written statement. The statement came after a two-hour meeting between the island nation’s Greek Cypriot president, Nicos Anastasiades, and Ersin Tatar, the newly elected leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots.