Cyprus leaders agree to hold fresh talks on reuniting the divided island

Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu agreed on Tuesday (August 31st) to hold fresh intensive talks aimed at reuniting the divided island. The two leaders will have a regular meeting on Friday, followed by two rounds of intensive talks on September 7th and 10th. The focus again is on the property issue, said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s special adviser on Cyprus, Alexander Downer, who added that Christofias and Eroglu must “take time and get it right”. The remarks came after Eroglu noted recently that the negotiations’ deadline — at the end of this year — is approaching. Friday marks the second anniversary of the start of these UN-mediated talks.