MOSCOW (Sputnik) According toIRNA, Reza Zabib confirmed Irans interest inunited Cyprus duringthe meeting withPresident ofNorthern Cyprus Mustafa Akinci. He also expressed hope that the ongoing talks would bring positive outcomes.
In late October, Akinci and his Greek Cypriot counterpart Nicos Anastasiades agreed tohold the key phase ofreunification talks inMont Pelerin, Switzerland.
Negotiations are set tobe held onOctober 7-11. It is the first time when the sides would discuss how much territory each ofthem would control underan envisioned federation. Cyprus was divided in1974 afterTurkey invaded the island inthe wake ofthe Greek Cypriots coup.
The Turkish Republic ofNorthern Cyprus proclaimed independence almost a decade later, currently recognized only byTurkey. Ankara keeps some 35,000 troops inthe breakaway northern part ofthe island The United Nations withthe leaders ofthe two parts ofthe island, President ofCyprus Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci have been brokering peace talks forreunification ofthe two parts ofCyprus since2014.
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