Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (centre) joins hands with Greek and Turkish Cypriot Leaders Demetris Christofias (left) and Dervis Eroglu. UN Photo/Eskinder DebebeThe latest round of United Nations-facilitated talks between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities aimed at the reunification of Cyprus have ended in New York after ?robust and intensive? discussions, Secretary-Ban Ki-moon said today, calling for a decisive move to reach a final agreement.
Mr. Ban, who attended the talks between Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart, Dervis Eroglu, on Monday and Tuesday, said ?limited progress? was achieved during the meeting.
He also reminded both parties that the process is Cypriot-owned and Cypriot-led.
?The UN is not here to impose solutions upon the sides,? MrI have proposed that the sides complete the exchange of data on property within the next two weeks to which they agreed.. Ban told reporters at UN Headquarters, adding that the two sides had come to the meeting to make an effort to resolve the main challenges in the process ? the issues of the election of the executive, property and citizenship.
?In terms of next steps, I have proposed that the sides complete the exchange of data on property within the next two weeks to which they agreed,? said Mr. Ban, whose Special Adviser on Cyprus, Alexander Downer, will brief the Security Council later today on the talks.
?I will be providing a report to the Security Council on the status of the negotiations at the end of February [and] at the end of March I will seek a review of the process from my Special Adviser.
?If his report is positive, consistent with relevant Security Council resolutions and following consultations with the two sides, I intend to call a multilateral conference in late April or early May,? said the Secretary-General.
He stressed that, at this stage of the talks, even maintaining the momentum and continuing negotiations in an intensive manner is not sufficient. ?I have urged the leaders to make decisive steps to move to a final agreement,? he added.
?The United Nations remains convinced that it is in the interest of all Cypriots to reach a durable settlement,? he said.
In 2008, both sides agreed to work towards ?a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as defined by relevant Security Council resolutions.? The partnership will comprise a Federal Government with a single international personality, along with a Turkish Cypriot Constituent State and a Greek Cypriot Constituent State, which will be of equal status.





Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (back to camera) greets Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders Demetris Christofias (centre) and Dervis Eroglu (right) at Greentree Estate in Manhasset, New York. UN Photo/Eskinder DebebeSecretary-General Ban Ki-moon met today with the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities as they began two days of United Nations-facilitated talks on reunifying the divided Mediterranean island nation.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon with Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias (left) and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu (right). UN Photo/Eskinder DebebeSecretary-General Ban Ki-moon is looking forward to ?concrete progress? when the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders meet in New York next week to discuss reunifying the divided Mediterranean island nation, his spokesperson said today.
Matthew Nimetz, Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for the talks between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. UN Photo/Paulo FilgueirasRepresentatives of Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia have wrapped up two days of United Nations-mediated talks on the dispute over the official name of the latter country, the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General announced today.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visits the buffer zone in Cyprus and crossed to the north via Ledra Street in February 2010Top United Nations officials have voiced sadness at the passing of Rauf Denktash, the former Turkish Cypriot leader who died on Friday in Nicosia. 
