Cyprus leaders under pressure to strike deal deal in Swiss resort

Rival Cypriot leaders at a make-or-break summit in Switzerland this week will come under pressure to seal an elusive peace deal for their divided island or face the consequences.

"We are looking for a final settlement... We expect both parties to come with determination, will and leadership for a final settlement," a U.N. spokesperson told AFP.

"We are expecting all parties to come to the table and settle this once and for all, including Greece, Turkey and Britain," the three guarantor powers of the former British colony.

Nicos Anastasiades, the Greek Cypriot leader, and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart Mustafa Akıncı are to resume the U.N.-led reunification talks on June 28 in the Alpine ski resort of Crans-Montana.

The conference is expected to run for at least 10 days, according to officials. Apart from the guarantor powers, a representative of the European Union will attend as an observer.

It has yet to be confirmed if U.N. chief Antonio Guterres will take part.

U.N.-backed Cyprus peace talks held in Geneva in January failed to make any headway.

The eastern Mediterranean island has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops intervened in response to an Athens-inspired coup seeking union with Greece.

Turkey maintains around 35,000 troops in Turkish Cyprus.

The Cyprus talks moved to Switzerland after negotiations on the island hit a dead end more than two years into the U.N.-brokered process.

Top of the agenda is a new security arrangement for a post-settlement federal Cyprus. This would involve the guarantor powers, which retain the right of military intervention.

Unlocking security would allow Anastasiades and Akıncı to make concessions on other core issues.
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