UN envoy Lute meets leaders in Cyprus

NICOSIA

The United Nations Secretary-General’s temporary special consultant on Cyprus, Jane Holl Lute, met with Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akıncı on July 23.

Meanwhile, members of the “Bi-Communal Peace Initiative United Cyprus” demonstrated on the Turkish side of Nicosia carrying signs that read “Peace and Solution Now” in English, Turkish, and Greek, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

American diplomat Lute is on the long-divided island to test a possible continuation of reunification talks. The latest talks meant to resolve the Cyprus dispute collapsed last year.

Akıncı told Lute about “the Turkish side’s constructive initiatives during negotiations,” according to a statement by Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) spokesperson Barış Burcu.

“During the meeting, Akıncı explained to Lute in detail the reasons why a solution [for Cyprus] has not been reached to date despite all the positive efforts of the Turkish Cypriot side,” he said.

Separately, Akıncı also met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.

On his Twitter account, Çavuşoğlu wrote that the meeting was to “discuss possible ways forward on the Cyprus issue in the coming period.”