A meeting between Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci is underway in MontPelerin to discuss the two sides` positions on the territorial adjustment criteria, that have been written down in a joint document, with a view to reach convergences.

Anastasiades had earlier a meeting with the Greek Cypriot side`s negotiating team.

In statements on Thursday evening, in Montreux where the UN hosted a dinner for the leaders and their negotiating teams at a restaurant, Anastasiades, Akinci and the UN Secretary General`s Special Adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, stressed that Friday`s meeting is crucial for this intensified phase of the talks.

Anastasiades and Akinci began on Monday in Mont-Pelerin intensive negotiations on the territory issue and all other outstanding issues interdependently.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Anastasiades and Akinci have been engaged in UN-led negotiations since May last year, with a view to reunite the island under a federal roof.