( Xinhua ) - Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat will meet under UN auspices on March 21, UN spokesperson Marie Okabe said Wednesday.
Senior aides from the two sides agreed on the date Wednesday during a meeting hosted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative in Cyprus Michael Moller, she said, adding that the meeting will take place in the UN Protected Area in Nicosia.
Cyprus has remained divided since 1974 when Turkey militarily intervened and occupied the north of Cyprus following a coup by a group of Greek officers, who pushed for a quick union with Greece.
In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot authorities declared breakaway from Cyprus and set up "the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," which is recognized only by Turkey.
For several decades, the UN has continuously worked to persuade the two communities to find a viable solution to the Cyprus issue but has failed so far.