Cyprus talks to resume, says Turkish Cypriot president

LEFKOSA, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Negotiations between the Turkish Cypriot government and Greek Cypriot administration are to resume, the recently elected Turkish Cypriot president has announced.

 Mustafa Akinci made the announcement on Monday after holding talks with Espen Barth Eide, the UN Special Adviser on Cyprus, in Lefkosa presidential office. 

 Akinci said in a press conference with Eide: "There is an important opportunity for the solution of Cyprus issue and the talks will resume."

Eide said the talks represented the "best opportunity" of the decade for resolving the ongoing dispute over divided Cyprus.

A date for the talks is expected to be set during a meeting on May 11 between Akinci and Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades.

Akinci said TRNC Foreign Minister Ozdil Nami, who will represent Turkish Cypriots in negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side, is to pay a one-day visit to Ankara on May 6 to hold talks with Turkish authorities. 

He said "both sides must show a will and resolution to solve the Cyprus issue".

"The leaders must convene and discuss all issues. Above all, it must be seen whether they share same vision, or not," he added.

Eide said Turkey also should seize the opportunity of the next phase of the negotiation process, saying Ankara was well aware that a solution on the island would also benefit the country.

Peace talks between Greek Cypriot administration and Turkish Cypriot government have been on hold since October.

Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots have tried to find a comprehensive settlement to renew their partnership since a joint government on the island collapsed in 1963.

The island has been divided into Turkish Cypriot government in the northern third and Greek Cypriot administration in the southern two-thirds after a 1974 military coup by Greece was followed by the intervention of Turkey as a guarantor power in Cyprus.

Peace talks were unilaterally suspended by the Greek Cypriot side last October after Turkey issued a navigational telex on behalf of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus for seismic research off the coast of Cyprus.