European Union (EU) issues were the focus on March 16 2010 of the latest round in the United Nations-backed process of reunification talks between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders, one of the last meetings before an expected break for elections in the north, the UN News Service said.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who spoke with his Special Adviser Alexander Downer by telephone following the meeting, told journalists in New York that it was "very important" that the two leaders have continued negotiating despite the electoral campaign in the north of the Mediterranean island.

The Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat, is up for re-election on April 18. In the north of Cyprus, there is a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," a result of the Turkish invasion in 1974, but this state is recognised only by Ankara.

The next meeting between the two leaders is scheduled for March 30 2010, Downer told journalists in Nicosia, where the talks between Talat and his Greek Cypriot counterpart, Dimitris Christofias, are taking place.

"I am not sure how much progress they will be making, but during my visit I stressed with them the importance of making progress," Ban said, reiterating the message he delivered during a visit to the region in February.

"It is again very encouraging that the Turkish prime minister has made quite a good statement which will be also a good demonstration of the commitment of the Turkish government," Ban said, according to the UN News Service.

Downer, who has recently visited both Greece and Turkey, told Ban that he has had very good consultation and support from both countries.

The UN peacekeeping mission in Cyprus was set up in 1964 to prevent further fighting between the two communities.

"We hope that if the two leaders can issue some joint statement on the agreement they will have made, that is my sincere hope. I have asked Mr. Downer to do his best to facilitate to make progress," Ban said.