Τhe Cyprus peace talks are Cypriot-owned and leader-led, the UN has confirmed, adding that they are facilitated by the UNSG`s Special Adviser, Espen Barth Eide.

The talks, that will continue on May 2, will be held in the presence of Eide, UNFICYP Spokesperson Aleem Siddique confirmed to CNA on Wednesday.

According to the Press and Information Office, during Tuesday`s briefing of foreign media representatives, the Spokesperson of the UN Secretary General, Stéphane Dujarric, replying to a question confirmed that the UNSG has received a letter from the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Kotzias.

“I would like to reiterate that the Cyprus peace talks are Cypriot-owned and leader-led, facilitated by the United Nations, through the Secretary General’s Special Adviser, Mr Espen Barth Eide”, he added.

At the same time, Dijarric said that Eide “has the Secretary General’s full confidence in the exercise of his mandate at this critical time in the peace talks”.

The Secretary General and his Special Adviser have been in frequent contact with all relevant international actors, including the European Commission as a united Cyprus will be a full member of the European Union”, he added.

UN-led peace talks are currently underway to find a negotiated settlement that would reunite Cyprus, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.