The UN team in Cyprus is thinking of ideas to help prepare the way forward in the Cyprus talks, UN Secretary General’s Special Representative in Cyprus Lisa Buttenheim said on Wednesday.

Buttenheim was speaking after having been received by Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, at the Presidential Palace.

She said it was an “excellent meeting”. We had a good discussion about the process which you know has been underway since the joint declaration was adopted in February and I am keen as I know he is to prepare the next meeting on the 2nd of September between him and Mr. Eroglu, she pointed out.

At the same time she noted that the UN are “thinking about ideas”.

“We would like to try to help prepare the way forward based on agreement between the two sides”, she said.

Buttenheim continued to say that during the meeting they also discussed the renewal of the mandate of UNFICYP later today by the UN Security Council, in New York.

She highlighted the fact that in the text, among others, the Security Council members “also commend the two leaders for the joint declaration that they adopted”. I think, she said, “this is extremely important to bear in mind because this is an agreement that has been reached between the two leaders”.

Replying to a question on whether there are specific ideas to remove the obstacles, Buttenheim said that “we are working on that”. We have, she added, some ideas and of course we meet with both sides, noting that “we will be sharing our thoughts”.

The point is they have to agree, she pointed out.

At the same time Buttenheim expressed the hope “that the meeting on the 2nd of September will be a good meeting” and she reiterated that the two negotiators meet again on August 26. We will be in touch with them, she said.

Asked when the two sides will be able to move to the next phase she said that she can’t predict that, adding that “we obviously would like it to be when the time is ready and I think both leaders would like to see that moment come”.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. UN led talks have been under way between Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu since February aiming to reunite the island under a federal roof.