UN chief hails Cyprus over decision to resume talks

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon has welcomed an agreement for resuming talks between leaders of the estranged Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities of Cyprus to end their problem.

Ban Tuesday "warmly welcomed" the agreement between Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu announced earlier in the day to resume negotiations aimed at reaching a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue, Xinhua reported.

Anastasiades and Eroglu met for 80 minutes Tuesday at a UN compound on the buffer zone of Cyprus which separates their respective regions before reaching the agreement. They said they would seek a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal state with a single sovereignty.

"I commend the leaders for their commitment to resuming negotiations and for their hard work in the past months to reach what is an important statement of shared principles and invaluable basis for renewed talks," the UN chief said in a statement.