UN SG, Barroso and Van Rompuy discuss the Cyprus problem

The Cyprus problem was among the issues discussed during a meeting between the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission Harman Van Rompuy and Jose Manuel Barroso.

The meeting was held in New York on September 26.

According to press release issued by the UN, Ban and his interlocutors discussed the conflict in Syria, including the escalating humanitarian crisis, and the need for the international community to support the neighbouring countries, a well as international peace efforts for Somalia, the Cyprus problem, Mali and Guinea-Bissau.

The Secretary-General, the release said, emphasized the need for a continuing push to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, and stressed the importance of building coalitions to achieve a forward-looking post-2015 agenda, including on climate change.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied 37 per cent of its territory.