Talks between Cyprus President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash on the future of the long-divided island began here Tuesday shortly after 10:00 a.m. (0800 GMT).
Clerides, a Greek Cypriot who heads the internationally-recognised Republic of Cyprus government, arrived at United Nations chief of mission Zbigniew Wlosowicz's official residence in Nicosia's UN-controlled buffer zone one minute before 10.
He was followed by Denktash, whose breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the Turkish-occupied north of the island is recognised only by Ankara, arrived four minutes later.
The two men went inside then reappeared two minutes later for a photo-call. Both men were smiling and patted each other on the back when they went back to start their talks.
They were accompanied by UN envoy Alvaro de Soto, who was carrying a small orange notebook and a pencil.
"My role is very limited," De Soto told reporters on his arrival – Nicosia (AFP)
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