UN's Ban Ki-Moon to host Cyprus negotiations

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will meet Cyprus' Greek and Turkish presidents in New York later this month in a bid to advance peace talks, the UN announced Saturday. A UN statement didn't specify which leaders would be present at the Nov. 18 meeting, but Ban's invitation is said to have gone to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Dervis Eroglu and Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias. The meeting will be part of the "ongoing negotiation process to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, conducted by the two communities under the auspices of the United Nations," the UN said in a statement. A new crossing through the UN-patrolled cease-fire line that divides the island opened this month, giving a new boost to reunification talks.