Cyprus Reunification Talks Resume Under New UN Envoy

(MENAFN- QNA) The new UN envoy to Cyprus is to meet for the first time with rival leaders from the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities on Friday, in a bid to make headway on long-stalled talks to reunify the island.

Espen Barth Eide, a seasoned Norwegian diplomat, is scheduled to meet with the islands' two leaders, Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, in Nicosia, dpa reported.

Eide will also meet separately with negotiators from both sides.

During a meeting with Eide on Thursday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said his envoy was assuming his functions "at a promising moment in the Cyprus peace process."