The United Nations has confirmed that Greek and Turkish Cypriot negotiators have met in Nicosia to discuss arrangements for the upcoming meeting of the leaders from the two sides.
"Greek Cypriot negotiator Andreas Mavroyiannis and Turkish Cypriot Negotiator Kudret Özersay met today in the United Nations Protected Area," a spokesperson for the UN Secretary General's Good Offices Mission in Cyprus said late Tuesday.
The negotiators exchanged views on methodology and the way forward in preparation for the upcoming leaders' meeting which will be held on September 2, said the spokesperson.
"The UN will hold bilateral meetings with both negotiators in the coming days to continue the preparations for the leaders' meeting," he added.
Notably, Tuesday's negotiator's meeting came days after UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Espen Barth Eide of Norway as his new Special Adviser on Cyprus.
Eide will assume the position formerly held by Alexander Downer of Australia, who stepped down as his Special Adviser in April 2014.
According to a statement from Ban's spokesperson, Eide, a seasoned diplomat, brings to the position a deep understanding of peace processes and peacemaking.
Eide was previously Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway (2012-2013) and also served in other senior positions during his 10 years in the Norwegian Government, including as Minister of Defense (2011-2012).
Eide currently serves as Managing Director and Member of the Managing Board of the World Economic Forum in Geneva.
The UN has been facilitating talks between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leadership, with a view to the eventual establishment of a federal government with a single international personality, consisting of a Turkish Cypriot Constituent State and a Greek Cypriot Constituent State, each of equal status.
The UN also maintains a peacekeeping force in Cyprus, known as UNFICYP, which was deployed in 1964, when inter-communal fighting erupted on the Mediterranean island.
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