UN-led peace talks between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot communities continue here Wednesday, with a view to finding a negotiated settlement to reunite Cyprus, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion. President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglou are scheduled to meet Wednesday morning, in the framework of direct negotiations on the Cyprus problem.

Speaking after their last meeting on May 12, President Christofias said he submitted a proposal on the competencies of the federal police and the joint Investigation Authority and expects the reaction of the Turkish Cypriot side. He also said he had asked to discuss issues concerning the Geneva meeting with the UN Secretary General in early July. He noted that he clarified the position of the Greek Cypriot side that any thoughts on an international conference “must ripen and be implemented only when we are close to an agreement on all other issues of internal governance.”

In his remarks after the meeting, UN Secretary General`s Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer said the leaders of the two communities discussed police matters and the upcoming meeting with the Secretary-General. “They continued, as they both agreed, in a positive manner on discussions on police matters. The leaders also had quite a long discussion about the upcoming meeting with the Secretary-General, and both sides agreed to exchange opinions with each other on the issue of the meeting with the Secretary-General with a view to making that meeting a really successful meeting”, he said.