President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci have agreed to meet twice weekly and intensify reunification negotiations as of June 16th, said the UN in a statement.

The development follows a meeting between them today, June 8th, which they described as constructive.

They also agreed to continue the talks in a structured manner.

The leaders thanked UN envoy Lisa Buttenheim, who is leaving the island shortly.

Tensions pass

Relations between Anastasiades and Akinci are smooth again after the insulting treatment the Turkish government served to the president at a dinner for state heads in May.

The president cancelled a leader’s meeting with Akinci in Cyprus after he was invited to attend the dinner organised by the Turkish government on the sidelines of the UN Humanitarian Conference in Istanbul. The reason was that Akinci was given the title of head of state of the TRNC, a self-declared entity only recognised by Turkey.

But a number of reassurances from the US and UN that their policies towards the Republic of Cyprus being the official state has changed the president’s mind about calling off the talks.

“We had the opportunity, on the sidelines of the event, to talk with Mr Akinci and to arrange a new date for a meeting of intensive consultations so that, if and when there is common ground, to reach as soon as possible a solution that is desired by all. The date has been set for 8 June,” he said.

The sense that positions have hardened in the talks cannot be escaped, however, with Turkey showing its true intentions of backing the TRNC and not supporting domestic moves towards peace and reunification.