Eide returns to Cyprus, “game not over” says UN

Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said on Wednesday he was willing to resume UN-sponsored peace talks with Turkish Cypriots after the latest round of talks in Mont Pelerin to reunite the island stalled earlier this week.

Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci met for two days in Switzerland this week but talks collapsed on Tuesday after the two sides failed to reach an agreement on the internal borders of a future bi-communal federal state.

“I want to assure that I am determined and ready to take the necessary steps to continue the dialogue,” Anastasiades said in a televised address on Wednesday, adding he was in contact with EU leaders to ensure the door remains open to further talks. “I am ready to continue the dialogue where it broke off,” he said.

Akinci, meanwhile, said he spoke with US Vice President Joe Biden, who has led Washington’s diplomacy on the Cyprus conflict, and confirmed his continued desire to reach a solution to the conflict despite the latest deadlock. Turkish Cypriot media also reported Akinci delivered a similar message to the UN.

Both leaders’ comments come after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday warned both sides to not miss a “historic opportunity” to end one of the world’s most intractable political problems.

Both Cypriot leaders have expressed optimism that peace of talks that began in 2014 could yield a peace agreement to unite the island under federal structure by the end of 2016. This would be followed by a public referendum in 2017.