The UN-led Cyprus peace talks will continue in Mont Pelerin, in Switzerland, from 7 – 11 November, a statement issued here tonight by the UN Spokesperson says.

The intensive talks are expected to focus on the issue of territory and all other outstanding issues interdependently, the statement, released after a long meeting the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustaf Akinci had on Wednesday night, adds.

“The Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr. Mustafa Akıncı, and the Greek Cypriot leader, Mr. Nicos Anastasiades, have decided to continue the Cyprus talks in Mont Pelerin, Switzerland from 7th to 11th November. This intensive week of negotiations will be conducted under the auspices of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Cyprus, Mr. Espen Barth Eide,” the statement reads.

The meeting, it points out, “will concentrate on the chapter of territory as well as all other outstanding issues interdependently. The leaders expressed their hope that their meeting in Switzerland will pave the way for the last phase of the talks in line with their shared commitment to do their utmost in order to reach a settlement within 2016.”

“Since the leaders have completed their discussions in advance of the meeting in Switzerland they have instructed the negotiators to meet instead of their own planned meeting on 31st October.”

The two leaders, the statement says, wish to express their gratitude to the Government of Switzerland for its generosity in offering to host this event.

The leaders will be accompanied in Switzerland by their negotiating teams and relevant subject matter experts.

President Anastasiades and Akinci have been engaged in talks since May last year, with a view to finding a negotiated settlement that would reunite Cyprus, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.