NICOSIA, Cyprus, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot negotiators had "substantive discussions" Monday aimed at resolving the Cyprus problem, a U.N. spokesman said.
Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis and Turkish Cypriot negotiator Kudret Ozersay "completed their exchange of views on process and started substantive discussions on issues connected to different chapters," the spokesman said in a release issued by the United Nations.
Cyprus has been divided into the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish-occupied north since 1974. Turkey hasn't recognized the republic.
The United Nations has been facilitating talks between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leadership, with an eye toward eventually establishing a federal government with one international presence that has a Turkish Cypriot state and a Greek Cypriot state, the U.N. representative said. Each state would have equal status.
The negotiators meeting at a U.N. facility in the capital of Nicosia occurred more than a week after Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu finalized a joint communique and formally restarted talks.
