Merkel In Cyprus Jan. 11th, 2011

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is due in Cyprus on January 11th to offer Germany's help in resolving a deadlock over Turkey's EU membership negotiations, according to comments she made earlier this year.

Resolving the impasse over Cyprus is important, primarily in issues of security cooperation between NATO and the EU, said Merkel, who met with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in November, 2010.

Amid delays in reunification talks due to Turkish-Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu's recent heart surgery, during her visit she will meet with President Demetris Christofias and Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou.

Eight of Turkey's EU membership chapters were frozen by the EU because of the country's refusal to recognise the Republic of Cyprus. Turkey is the only country in the world which recognises the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the unilaterally-declared state set up in 1983.

The chancellor will be in Cyprus for one day and will also visit the Goethe Institute in Nicosia, and the Ledra Street crossing point with Mayor Eleni Mavrou.