Germany preparing to host Cyprus talks

BERLIN (AA) - Germany is preparing to host a UN-sponsored meeting between Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders next week, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Friday.

Speaking at a news conference in Berlin, Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Christofer Burger said Germany would host Monday’s informal meeting in Berlin at the request of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

"We are in favor of the resumption of UN-led negotiations in the Cyprus conflict," he said, adding that Germany would provide logistical support for the trilateral meeting, but would not take part in the talks.

The meeting between UN Secretary General Guterres, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mustafa Akinci and Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades comes amid heightened tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean in recent months.

Cyprus problem remains unsolved for decades despite a series of efforts by the UN for a lasting settlement between the Turkish and Greek Cypriots.

The TRNC disputes the Greek Cypriot administration’s claim to be the sole legitimate government of the whole of Cyprus, while the Greek Cypriots oppose recognizing the political equality of Turkish Cypriots.

The island has been divided into a Turkish Cypriot government in the northern third and Greek Cypriot administration in the south since a 1974 military coup which aimed at Cyprus’ annexation by Greece.

Turkey’s intervention as a guarantor power in 1974 had stopped the years long persecution and violence against Turkish Cypriots by ultra-nationalist Greek Cypriots.

In 1983, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was founded.