Rival Cyprus leaders map out intensified peace talks
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The rival leaders of ethnically divided Cyprus are meeting to take stock of where things stand in reunification talks ahead of an intensified phase of negotiations aiming at a peace deal by year’s end.
President Nicos Anastasiades, a Greek Cypriot, and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci are meeting at a U.N. compound Wednesday to outline the points the agree and disagree on before launching the stepped-up talks.
Anastasiades said this would help make talks more productive by focusing efforts on tackling disagreements in forging a federation.
It’s their first meeting after Anastasiades paused the talks over a perceived bid to diplomatically upgrade the island’s breakaway Turkish Cypriot north.
A Turkish invasion in the wake of a 1974 coup aiming at union with Greece carved Cyprus along ethnic lines.
