Anastasiades and Akinci willing to meet in New York

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish-Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci reportedly expressed their readiness Friday to resume talks in New York next month along with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The two men held an informal meeting Friday at the residence of the UN's special representative Elizabeth Spehar in the United Nations buffer zone in Nicosia.

"The two leaders had a sincere and constructive exchange of views and they discussed in depth the basic principles. They decided to continue engaging in the efforts undertaken by Ms Jane Holl Lute with the determination to finalize the Terms of Reference that would enable structured and results-oriented negotiations leading to a settlement with a sense of urgency," said a statement issued by UN spokesman Aleem Siddique.

"The two leaders also decided to announce their readiness to hold a...