UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday urged both leaders of the Greek and Turkish communities in Cyprus to strive to advance negotiations aimed at ending the division on the island, DPA reported.
Ban talked separately by telephone with Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu, citing the slow progress in settling their differences.
The UN said, "The secretary general noted that the process has been slow in recent weeks and urged them to achieve concrete advances in the current discussions on property in order to maintain momentum in the peace process."
Ban said he has been following closely the talks in Nicosia and planned to make a report on any progress for the UN Security Council in November. The talks are being mediated by former Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, the UN special envoy for Cyprus.