UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Friday expressed the hope that the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders could overcome the impasse on resumption of negotiations next week during a visit from his Special Adviser on Cyprus.

In a note to correspondents issued here Friday, a UN spokesman said Ban had been briefed by his special adviser on Cyprus, Alexander Downer, on efforts undertaken in Cyprus toward a resumption of negotiations since the UN chief met with the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders at UN Headquarters in New York in September.

"Recalling that Security Council Resolution 2114 dated 30 July 2013 welcomed the intention to resume negotiations in October 2013, and pointing to the limited window of opportunity to achieve a comprehensive settlement in Cyprus, the secretary-general expressed concern that a continuing deadlock over a joint communique has hampered a return to talks," the note said.

Ban expressed the hope that the two leaders would overcome this deadlock during the upcoming visit of his special adviser on Nov. 4-8, and resolve any other outstanding issues so that the date for the first leaders' meeting can be set and full-fledged negotiations can resume without further delay.

"The secretary-general once again expressed his full confidence in his special adviser and strong appreciation for the work of the good offices mission in Cyprus," the note said.



Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when the Turkish military intervened and controlled the north of the island after a coup by a group of Greek officers.

For several decades, the United Nations has continuously worked to persuade the two communities to find a solution to the Cyprus issue.

Reunification talks between estranged Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been stalled for the past 14 months, in part because of financial turmoil engulfing the island and its need for an international bailout.

The peace talks are focused on reuniting the island as a federation, but have repeatedly stumbled on such core issues such as the distribution of power, redrawing territorial boundaries and guaranteeing property rights to tens of thousands uprooted by the conflict.