UN hopes for Cyprus peace talks next week

The U.N. hopes to relaunch talks next week on ending the four-decade division of Cyprus after the island’s Greek and Turkish communities agreed on a roadmap, a spokesman said Feb. 8.

“We are hoping to hold a meeting at the beginning of next week… we are hoping for a meeting as soon as possible,” Michel Bonnardeaux said.

The Greek and Turkish Cypriots have now agreed on a road map prepared by the United Nations to resume talks on reunification of the island.

Efforts to relaunch the U.N.-brokered talks gathered pace this week after being deadlocked for nearly two years.

Both the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots have been working feverishly to finalise a joint declaration allowing them to restart the negotiations.