Cypriot leaders meet, focus on federal state's authorizations


Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Mustafa Akıncı and Greek Cypriot counterpart Nicos Anastasiades met in the U.N.-administered buffer zone in Nicosia on Thursday, after talks were postponed due to a huge forest fire on the Greek side of the island on Tuesday.Speaking after the meeting, Akıncı said they carried out a comprehensive negotiation during this three-hour meeting, and added that they focused on determining authorizations for the prospective federal state."We will hold six meetings with the [upcoming] meeting on July 1. On July 1, we will talk about the ownership issue."Reunification talks between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities on the island resumed in May 2015. Previous negotiations stalled in October 2014 due to a dispute over underwater gas exploration.