Turkish, Greek Cypriot leaders to meet in late February

By Murat Demirci

LEFKOSA, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (AA) - Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders will meet later this month, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus presidential office said Friday.

Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci will meet Nicos Anastasiades in an informal meeting Feb. 26 at the UN Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) Elizabeth Spehar's residence in the buffer zone.

Cypriot leaders last gathered in late October under Spehar's hosting in the buffer zone, patrolled by the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.

Within the framework of the Cyprus negotiations, a conference was held in Switzerland's Crans-Montana in July 2017 but failed reach a result.

The Cyprus negotiations were primarily about the economy, EU, property, sharing of management and power, territory and security and guarantees.

The Eastern Mediterranean island has been divided since 1974, when a Greek Cypriot coup was followed by violence against the island's Turks, and Ankara's intervention as a guarantor power.