A series of preliminary discussions held between a United Nations and Greek-Cypriot official concluded Friday, preparing for the possibility that negotiations could be revived aimed at ending the division on the Mediterranean island, dpa reported. U.N. undersecretary-general for political affairs Kieran Prendergast had been meeting with Tasos Tzionis in New York for "preliminary, informal and non-binding discussion on the Cyprus issue," spokesman Stephane Dujarric told dpa. "During these meetings, the Greek Cypriot delegation explained in detail their views on both procedure and substance," Dujarric said. Tzionis is a representative of Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos. Dujarric said the discussions ended and Prendergast will travel to Nicosia on Monday to meet with Papadopoulos and Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the Turkish-Cypriot community in northern Cyprus, and other Cypriots political leaders. Prendergast will travel to Athens and Ankara on Thursday for more meetings with government officials there before reporting back to Secretary-General Kofi Annan. --More 2311 Local Time 2011 GMT
