Yildirim, Eide meet over Cyprus issue

By Sinan Uslu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim reiterated Turkey's determination on finding a fair and permanent solution to the Cyprus issue, Turkish prime ministry's press office said Tuesday.

Yildirim received the UN Adviser on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide in capital Ankara.

Yildirim also expressed hope to make progress in upcoming talks in February.

Eide in return underlined EU's efforts for a solution on the divided island, the press office said.

The issue of reunification of Cyprus remains unsolved despite a series of discussions resumed in May 2015.

The main goal is to find a political solution as the sides seek to reunify the island under a federal system after more than 40 years of division.

The Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akinci said earlier that both Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot voters could go to the polls in the first few months of 2017 for a referendum over the issue.