The talks between the president of Cyprus, Dimitris Christofias, and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat are making "solid progress" according to United Nations Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon.
 
"I am cautiously optimistic that a solution can be achieved," Ban said.
 
"On the basis of what has been accomplished so far, the international community expects the talks to continue to make substantial progress in a timely fashion," Ban said, according to the UN News Service.
 
Christofias and Talat committed themselves in 2008 to working towards "a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as defined by relevant Security Council resolutions."
 
That partnership would comprise a federal government with a single international personality, along with a Turkish Cypriot constituent state and a Greek Cypriot constituent State, which would be of equal status.
 
Ban said that the gaps between the sides have narrowed on a number of important issues, but differences remain, and it is clear that more work needs to be done to achieve full convergence.
 
Christofias and Talat have held more than 50 meetings, including one on December 3 2009 in Nicosia during which they discussed issues of citizenship, aliens, immigration and asylum. They are expected to meet again on December 9.
 
Cyprus has been divided since the Turkish invasion in the 1970s, which has resulted in a part of the island continuing to be occupied and constituted as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" which Ankara is alone in recognising.
 
Resolution of the Cyprus issue is seen as key to Turkey’s EU membership hopes. Athens and Nicosia say that it is unacceptable for an EU aspirant and a Nato state to be occupying part of Cyprus, an EU member.
 
Talat was due in London on December 3 for talks with UK prime minister Gordon Brown.
 
Turkey's progress this year on the path to EU accession was debated by its EU affairs minister and chief negotiator Egemen Bağış and the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee MEPs on December 2. His visit coincided with the committee's first discussion of a draft report on Turkey by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (EPP, NL).
 
"How can Turkey continue to move towards the EU if it does not solve its bilateral issues?" Marietta Giannakou (EPP, EL) asked, in a reference to Cyprus.

"Why are you maintaining the status quo on occupation of Cyprus?" Takis Hadjigeorgiou (GUE/NGL, CY) asked.

"Regarding Cyprus, it takes two to tango" Bağış said, adding that "the final solution must be based on equality".

Maria Eleni Koppa (S&D, EL) criticised Turkey's violation of Greek air space in the Aegean sea. "We need to start exploratory talks to define air space", Bağış said.