UN Council Urges Intensification Of Cyprus Talks

Leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities resumed talks in September to end a partition sealed in 1974.

The U.N. Security Council urged Greek and Turkish Cypriots on Friday to intensify negotiations to reunify the divided Mediterranean island.

In a resolution extending the mandate of a U.N. peacekeeping force in Cyprus for six months, the council said it welcomed progress in negotiations as well as confidence building measures such as cancellation of military exercises.

Leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities resumed talks in September to end a partition sealed in 1974 when Turkish troops invaded in response to a coup by Greek Cypriot militants seeking union with Greece.

The Security Council resolution described the talks as "an unprecedented opportunity to make decisive progress."

"(The Council) urges full exploitation of this opportunity, including by intensifying the momentum of negotiations, preserving the current atmosphere of trust and goodwill, and engaging in the process in a constructive and open manner," said the resolution, which was passed unanimously.

Both sides agree to a settlement based on a federation, but there are disagreements about how it would work and the degree of authority each side would have. Any deal will need to be approved by Cypriots in separate, simultaneous referendums.

Other outstanding issues include property rights, security guarantees, and the return of refugees.

Turkey has 30,000 troops stationed in North Cyprus and refuses to normalize ties with the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus, an EU member.

A settlement on Cyprus has eluded diplomats for decades, most recently in 2004 when then U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan drew up a plan for a settlement that was put to referendums on both sides of the island. It was approved by the Turkish Cypriots but rejected by Greek Cypriots.

Turkey started EU entry talks in 2005, but they have been hobbled by its refusal to recognize Greek Cyprus. Greek Cypriots represent the island in Brussels since 2004 and have right of veto over Turkey's entry.