Greek Cyprus doesn't want any problems with Turkey over reunification talks

The Greek Cypriot president's special representative, Andreas Mavroyannis, said Greek Cyprus doesn't want any conflict or competition with Turkey during negotiations to reunite the eastern Mediterranean island, according to Turkey's Sabah daily. Sabah reported on Tuesday that in remarks on the upcoming reunification talks between Greek and Turkish Cyprus, Mavroyannis said that Greek Cyprus is putting much effort into having a productive meeting between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders. The Greek Cypriot representative said that leaders from both sides of the island will most likely meet in November to hold reunification negotiations to find a comprehensive solution for Cyprus' future. Reiterating that he will meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Mavroyannis laid out the Greek Cypriots' roadmap. "We only want basic principles within the scope of UN decisions. The key to the solution is to establish a federation that will consist of two parts and two societies. The solution should consist of political equality, sovereignty of a single state, a single identity and unification of the island. And we are looking for a solution that the EU approves of," Sabah cited Mavroyannis as saying. During a meeting in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in late September, Davutoglu and Greek Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos agreed that special representatives from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) and the Greek Cypriot administration would make reciprocal visits to Turkey and Greece. Turkey will receive the Greek Cypriot president's special representative before the end of October, and the KKTC president's special representative, Osman Ertug, will be hosted by Greece. The representatives from Cyprus are expected to be received by the respective undersecretaries of the Turkish and Greek foreign ministries. Cyprus has been divided between a Greek Cypriot south and a Turkish Cypriot north since 1974, when Turkey sent troops to the island following a Greek-backed coup to unite Cyprus with Greece. The Greek Cypriot administration, which joined the European Union in 2004, is internationally recognized as representing the entire island, while only Turkey recognizes the KKTC. UN special envoy to Cyprus Alexander Downer prepared the groundwork for talks in a meeting with Davutoglu in mid-September. The two discussed Turkey's stance on the talks and a timetable for action. Talks have been stalled since January 2012 due to various delays from Greek Cyprus, and no significant progress has been achieved so far in decades-old UN-backed negotiations between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders. Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots want a quick end to the talks, while the Greek Cypriots have rejected setting a deadline.