Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu will have a  meeting on Monday, November 25, with the aim to agree on a joint declaration that will pave the way for the resumption of  direct talks on the Cyprus problem.

The meeting will take place at 1830 local time (1630 GMT) at a restaurant situated in the buffer zone near Ledra Palace in Nicosia.

According to a written statement by the Government Spokesman Christos Stylianides, issued tonight,  the President had a telephone conversation with Dervis Eroglu during which the Turkish Cypriot leader expressed his condolences over the death of former President Glafkos Clerides who passed away last Friday.

The Spokesman said that Anastasiades took the initiative to invite Eroglu for an informal meeting with the aim to conclude on a joint statement that will pave the way for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

“President of the Republic has sent an invitation letter to Mr. Eroglu in which he expresses his conviction that this is a critical moment in  efforts for a  decisive impetus with a view to finally achieve a solution and that we need to double our efforts for a joint statement during this first landmark meeting of the two leaders, in the framework of the UN good offices mission”, the Spokesman said in his written statement.

The spokesman expressed satisfaction for the acceptance of the invitation by the Turkish Cypriot leader.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. The latest round of UN-backed talks with the aim to reunite the island under  a federal roof  began in 2008 but resulted to a halt in 2012 when Cyprus assumed the EU Presidency.  The two communities have been meeting with the UN the past few weeks in order to agree on a joint declaration for the resumption of the talks.