UN chief arrives in Cyprus to push peace talks

Ban said upon arrival that he is confident that a solution is possible and within reach despite difficulties.

"Reaching a mutually acceptable solution will require courage, flexibility and vision, as well as a spirit of compromise," he said before heading for a working dinner hosted by Cyprus President Demetris Christofias.

Ban arrived in Cyprus as Christofias, the Greek Cypriot leader and Mehmet Ali Talat, the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community ended seven days of intensive negotiations on the thorny issues of governance and power sharing.

After the end of the talks, Ban's advisor on Cyprus, Alexander Downer announced that "significant progress has been made in a series of areas of governance."

Nevertheless, sources close to the talks say progress was only achieved on some aspects of the issue, still leaving many areas to be negotiated.

Ban said he had no illusions that the problem is easy to solve but added he was impressed both by the personal commitment of the two leaders and the progress they have achieved in 16 months of negotiations.

"I am here to encourage the two leaders to bring these talks to an acceptable solution," Ban said.

He added that the expectations of the international community are very high because solving this problem will "give inspiration to all those around the world trying to solve other seemingly intractable conflicts."

The UN chief will meet separately Talat and Christofias before presiding over a joint meeting on Monday. They will later make statements at a joint press conference.

The United Nations are involved in the Cyprus problem trying to keep the peace and promote a settlement for over 45 years.

For the last 35 years Cyprus has remained divided into ethically separate Greek and Turkish Cypriot regions, after Turkey sent troops to the island in 1974, responding to a coup by Greek army officers, Kazinform refers to Xinhuanet.

See www.xinhuanet.com