Talat meets Ban in Berlin

TURKISH Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Berlin yesterday, ahead of his meeting with President Demetris Christofias next week.

Christofias met Ban in Paris on Sunday.

Following yesterday’s meeting in Berlin, Talat aide Asim Akansoy told Turkish Cypriot television BRT the meeting lasted for nearly an hour.

According to Akansoy, Talat had conveyed the Turkish Cypriot side’s position on a comprehensive settlement, and that Ban had expressed the desire to see the start of negotiations as soon as possible.

Ban was also said to have told Talat how optimistic both he and the international community were about the current process.

“I have had three meetings with Mr Christofias and I hope when we meet on July 25 it will lead to full-fledged negotiations,” Talat said later, adding that Ban had expressed a similar wish.

“We will continue putting all of our efforts into this”.

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