Mustafa Akinci

The UN is hoping dinner diplomacy can push-start stalled Cyprus reunification talks after Cypriot leaders agreed to meet for dinner to iron-out differences.

A statement was issued by the UN on Friday to confirm President Nicosia Anastasiades and Mustafa Akinci will meet on April 16 inside the UN-controlled buffer zone in Nicosia at the defunct airport.

Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot administration are not yet prepared to resume talks to reunite the ethnically-split island stalled months ago, Cyprus government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides has told state broadcaster RIK.

Turkish Cypriot President Mustafa Akıncı approved a new four-party coalition government on Feb. 2.

The firm belief that a historic opportunity was missed in Crans-Montana, is expressed by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, in a report for his good offices mission on Cyprus.

What has changed since the inconclusive termination of the Cyprus talks at Crans-Montana? Nothing. Is there hope for the success of a new round of Cyprus talks should the sides decide to rehash the process?

 No way. Why then, has everyone started talking about the need to resume talks? Don't they have anything else to keep themselves busy?

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias has accused Britain of playing a hand in derailing a UN initiative to help broker a Cyprus solution during last summer’s peace talks in Switzerland.

Mustafa Akıncı, the president of Turkish Cyprus, is scheduled to speak today at a conference organized by the Economic Development Foundation (IKV). 

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades on Saturday denounced statements made by Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci after the failed negotiations to reunify the island in July as "unacceptable."

Were federation prospects dead in Cyprus? Can it be claimed that whatever may be done the two people of the island cannot be geared towards creating a working and sustainable federal resolution? If all prospects of a federal solution were exhausted, what kind of a settlement might be possible in Cyprus?

Before the division of Cyprus in 1974, Varosha - a resort town in Famagusta - was booming. The coastline was reportedly a destination for film stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

It is now a ghost town. Its hotels, restaurants and high-rise structures looming over sandy beaches have been slowly decaying.