The U.N. Security Council on Thursday adopted a presidential statement on Cyprus congratulating Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders for their efforts over the past eight months aimed at solving a 35-year conflict. The statement also urges the leaders to “increase the momentum” of negotiations, though it does not specify any deadlines. Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have been engaged in direct negotiations since September last year, aimed at solving the question of the Mediterranean island country, divided since 1974. The Republic of Cyprus, whose citizens are mostly ethnic Greek, is the internationally recognized government while the northern part of the country, which calls itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is recognized only by Turkey.
