President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias said his meeting on Monday with Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, in the framework of talks for a solution of the Cyprus problem, did not go well and was a failure.

Speaking on his return to the Presidential Palace, President Christofias said the meeting went “badly, we discussed the issue of properties and there is nothing to say.“

“The meeting was a failure and we must let the people know, unfortunately,“ he said, noting that he was also echoing UN assessments.

Asked what impact this would have on the future course of the talks, President Christofias said “it means we continue until Greentree,“ adding that “we are trying.“

To other questions, President Christofias said the Greek Cypriot side was linking the issue of properties with that of territories, noting that at the last meeting at Greentree with the UN Secretary General it had been decided that a committee would be set up to look into this issue, however “the Turkish Cypriot side is not responding.“

“We gave names, we are ready, we have found the necessary data for the issue of properties, we have data for the issue of territories, but unfortunately there is no response,“ he pointed out.

Asked about rumours from New York and especially the British side concerning an international summit on the Cyprus issue, President Christofias said that “things have changed“ and expressed certainty that the UN resolution on Cyprus would be “good“ and “fair.“

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. The leaders of the two communities in Cyprus are currently engaged in UN-led negotiations with an aim to reunify the island.