The Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders met in the buffer zone in Cyprus on Thursday.
President Mehmet Ali Talat of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias met in the buffer zone in the island to discuss property issue.

This is the 21st meeting of the leaders aiming to find a comprehensive settlement to Cyprus problem.

Taye Brook Zerihoun, the special representative of the United Nations (UN) secretary general in Cyprus, is also participating in the meeting.

In their meeting on February 25, leaders continued to discuss the criteria to be followed in settlement of the property issue, i.e. exchange of properties, compensation and how properties might be returned.

They will also discuss these matters in Thursday's meeting, and are expected to complete their talks.

After the property issue, the leaders will start discussing European Union (EU) issues.

TRNC is proposing to exchange or compensate former properties of the Greek Cypriots situated in its territory and to return them under certain conditions, whereas the Greek Cypriot administration argues that the property decision is one to be made by owners.

Cyprus talks, which was interrupted when Greek Cypriots rejected a United Nations (UN) plan (Annan plan for solution of the Cyprus issue) in the twin referendums held on April 24, 2004, resumed in September 11, 2008 following the victory of Demetris Christofias, AKEL chairman, in the presidential election held in Greek Cypriot part of the island.


AA