UPDATE - Cyprus reunification talks end without solution

ADDS STATEMENTS FROM UN, TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESMAN

By Fatih Erel

MONT PELERIN, Switzerland (AA) – UN-mediated peace talks on the Cyprus issue ended here without a solution Monday after negotiations failed to outline concrete steps to resolve the dispute, the UN said Monday.

Greek Cypriot leader, Nicos Anastasiades, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci, have been engaged in negotiations for the last two days.

"Despite their best efforts, they have not been able to achieve the necessary further convergences on criteria for territorial adjustment that would have paved the way for the last phase of the talks," the UN said in a statement.

"The two sides have decided to return to Cyprus and reflect on the way forward,” it added.

"The uncompromising attitude" of the Greek Cypriot and the Greek side resulted in the failure of the reunification talks, Turkish Cypriot president spokesman Baris Burcu said at a press conference Monday after the end of the talks.

The Turkish Cypriot side did not see "good intention" from the Greek side, Burcu added.

The issue of territory was one of the most intractable on the agenda.

Although the two men were believed to be close to agreement on the amount of territory to be run by the Turkish Cypriot government, there were still disputes about what towns and villages should be included.

Any agreement will mean redrawing existing boundaries and potentially moving thousands of residents from their homes, 42 years after many were displaced when the island was first divided.

Burcu said the Turkish Cypriot offer for territorial adjustments was to have 29.2 percent of the island.

"Turkish Cypriot proposed the logical territorial adjustments with Greek Cypriot but our interlocutors could not foresee this proposal and could not act accordingly," Burcu said.

"We did show flexibility on many issues to Greek side but we could not get any positive feedback," he added.

"l have been working for the peace process for 42 years and this is the biggest disappointment in my life," he said.

The two-day process was overseen by UN Special Envoy on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide in an effort to resolve one of the world’s longest-running political dilemmas.

Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders were trying to reach a final agreement that could see the island reunified after four decades.

During the current round of Swiss talks, territorial changes were not discussed since no common ground could be found to continue discussions on the issue, the source added.

Akinci and Anastasiades met in Mont Pelerin for the first round earlier this month. They returned Sunday to tackle territorial adjustments needed for an anticipated two-state federation; however, the two leaders declined to shake hands for photographers at the start of their latest talks.

If a deal could be reached on territorial changes, negotiators are expected to announce a date for a final summit between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders and three other states involved in the process: Turkey, Greece, and the U.K.

That meeting would focus on security, particularly the presence of 30,000 Turkish troops that remain on the island after a 1974 military coup was followed by Turkey’s intervention as a guarantor power.

Reunification discussions resumed in May 2015, and both sides have repeatedly expressed optimism that a solution would be found by the end of this year.

Once a final agreement is reached, it would be put to both communities in a referendum. A peace deal was approved by Turkish Cypriots in 2004 but rejected by Greek Cypriot voters.