The United Nations said two days of expert-level talks on the possible reunification of Cyprus had ended Thursday, describing them as a success but without disclosing any details.
The UN-backed negotiations in the alpine resort town of Mont Pelerin included Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot representatives as well as officials from Ankara, Athens and former colonial power Britain.
Those parties were also in Geneva last week trying to reach a deal to end one of the world's longest running political crises.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded in response to an Athens-inspired coup seeking union with Greece.
"The working group, established during the high-level meeting in Geneva on January 12, successfully completed the mandate entrusted to it by the conference," said a statement from the UN Secretary General's mission in Cyprus on the expert-level talks.
That included "identifying specific questions related to the issue of security and guarantees and the instruments needed to address them," it said.
"The participants agreed not to disclose details about their discussion, as the proceedings of the conference have not yet concluded," noting that the talks were held in a "positive spirit".
Earlier Thursday, Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos said if Turkey and the island's minority Turkish Cypriots want a solution, "there can neither be occupation troops nor guarantees."
Pavlopoulos was speaking after meeting in Nicosia with his Cyprus counterpart Nicos Anastasiades, the Greek Cypriot leader.
Anastasiades, whose country has been an EU member since 2004, said: "Our common goal is to finally achieve a solution that is fully compatible with the European acquis (EU legislation)… without the need to have any third country as a guarantor or troops of any country staying to protect supposedly one or the other community."
The United Nations said two days of expert-level talks on the possible reunification of Cyprus had ended Thursday, describing them as a success but without disclosing any details.
The UN-backed negotiations in the alpine resort town of Mont Pelerin included Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot representatives as well as officials from Ankara, Athens and former colonial power Britain.
Those parties were also in Geneva last week trying to reach a deal to end one of the world’s longest running political crises.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded in response to an Athens-inspired coup seeking union with Greece.
“The working group, established during the high-level meeting in Geneva on January 12, successfully completed the mandate entrusted to it by the conference,” said a statement from the UN Secretary General’s mission in Cyprus on the expert-level talks.
That included “identifying specific questions related to the issue of security and guarantees and the instruments needed to address them,” it said.
“The participants agreed not to disclose details about their discussion, as the proceedings of the conference have not yet concluded,” noting that the talks were held in a “positive spirit”.
Earlier Thursday, Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos said if Turkey and the island’s minority Turkish Cypriots want a solution, “there can neither be occupation troops nor guarantees.”
Pavlopoulos was speaking after meeting in Nicosia with his Cyprus counterpart Nicos Anastasiades, the Greek Cypriot leader.
Anastasiades, whose country has been an EU member since 2004, said: “Our common goal is to finally achieve a solution that is fully compatible with the European acquis (EU legislation)… without the need to have any third country as a guarantor or troops of any country staying to protect supposedly one or the other community.”
