Peace talks dominate US official's Cyprus visit

By Murat Demirci

LEFKOSA, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (AA) – U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland met leaders of Cyprus's two communities separately Thursday as peace talks continued on the island.

Nuland first met Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades before an engagement with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Mustafa Akinci at his presidential palace in Lefkosa.

Following the closed-door meetings, diplomatic sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said the the ongoing negotiation process in Cyprus dominated Nuland's two meetings.

Nuland will also meet the UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide.

Reunification talks between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities resumed in May 2015 when the then newly-elected Akinci met Anastasiades.

The eastern Mediterranean island was divided into a Turkish Cypriot state in the north and a Greek Cypriot administration in the south after a 1974 military coup was followed by the intervention of Turkey as a guarantor power.

Earlier this week, the president of the European Parliament said the EU would welcome a reunited Cyprus.

Martin Schulz said the EU would not be whole until the entire island became a part of the bloc “because we believe that the reunification of Cyprus is bringing together those who belong to each other".

Turkey and the TRNC also signed an energy protocol Tuesday this week for the construction of an undersea electricity cable link between the two countries.

Turkish Energy Minister Berat Albayrak and his TRNC counterpart Sunat Atun signed the deal on the sidelines of 23rd World Energy Congress in Istanbul.

"The electricity deal with the TRNC will contribute not only to the wellbeing of the TRNC but also the entire region," Albayrak told a news conference.