UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon arrived in Cyprus on Sunday, January 31. His visit aims to show support for the ongoing peace talks between the two sides of the island.
He told reporters upon arriving at the Larnaca airport: "I am here to show my personal support to the talks to reunify the country."
He stated that he did not think the Cyprus problem is easy to solve, adding that he was sure a solution is possible and within reach.
Passing through the Lokmacı Gate from the Greek Side to TRNC, the Secretary General met President Mehmet Ali Talat.
Talat said at the meeting where Prime Minister Derviş Eroğlu was also present that Turkish Cypriots give full support to an acceptable solution. Reminding that they embraced the Annan Plan which was rejected by the Greeks, by a majority in 2004, Talat noted that the Greek Administration still became a member to the European Union while the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus faces unjust embargos.
The President said they expect the international community's support for lifting the isolations.
Stating that they made progress with Greek leader Christofias in certain fields, Talat noted that time presses and an urgent solution must be reached in Cyprus.
The UN Secretary General will spend a day in Cyprus meeting with both leaders Dimitris Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat and touring the green line that divides the two communities. He will make a joint statement with the leaders following a trilateral meeting in the Buffer Zone.
UN Special Envoy Alexander Downer said on Friday that progress had been made on some aspects of discussions between the sides on how to co-govern the island in a future peace deal, reports the Reuters news agency.
Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) have been carrying on peace talks for the past 16 months. Any agreement between the leaders has to pass a referendum on both sides of the island.