The Cyprus problem, the course of negotiations to reach a settlement, the prospects of reaching a solution, and the role of Turkey, the EU and the UN in those efforts, were discussed during a meeting on Thursday between Minister of Foreign Affairs Marcos Kyprianou and the UN Secretary General`s Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer.
Speaking after the meeting, Kyprianou said that ``we meet at intervals, we exchange views basically on the Cyprus problem, the course of negotiations, and in general the international situation which may affect developments in the Cyprus problem.``
``The meeting is always useful. On the one hand, I was given the opportunity to hear from Mr. Downer and the UN how they view the course of the talks, and for them to hear my personal views and those of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,`` he said, adding that ``these meetings always have a constructive outcome.`` Asked what they discussed during Thursday`s meeting, Kyprianou referred to the state of affairs of the talks, future prospects and the role of Turkey, the EU and the UN.
To questions concerning an international conference on the Cyprus problem, Kyprianou said they did not discuss such a possibility, noting that ``at the moment there is a process of talks and of course everyone`s efforts are for this specific process to be successful.`` Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.
