UN available to host leaders' dinner

The UNSG’s Deputy Special Adviser on Cyprus has made it clear that the UN remains available to both sides, UN spokesperson Aleem Siddique told the Cyprus News Agency when asked about the possibility of a dinner date between President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci.

Siddique said that adviser Elizabeth Spehar is currently in New York and continues her meetings there, adding that she will be returning to Cyprus this weekend.

He added that at the moment no new meetings are scheduled between Spehar and Anastasiades or between Spehar and Akinci.

The latest round of UN-brokered peace talks at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana collapsed last year when the parties failed to agree on security issues.

The government has said that Akinci had declined to meet Anastasiades in a social setting but this was refuted by Akinci's spokesman who believes a mutually suitable date will be forthcoming.

Decades of negotiations held under the auspices of the UN aim at reunifying Cyprus under a federal roof.

But there are no clear signs when a new peace initiative might get off the ground after the latest failure.

And Nicosia has said there can be no talks while tensions exist over Cyprus' energy exploration plans that are opposed by Turkey.