07/07/2017 (Agence Europe) – The Cyprus reunification talks between the Greek Cypriot leader, Nicos Anastasiades, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mustafa Akinci, ended in failure on Friday 7 July (see EUROPE 11820, 11817). The inter-Cypriot negotiations had been ongoing in Switzerland for ten days but ended without agreement on reunification of the island, explained United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres. The discussions broke down on tricky issues such as withdrawal of Turkish troops from the north of the Mediterranean island, guarantees of security for a future state and Turkey’s desire to maintain the right to intervene. At the moment, the next stage will be a briefing of the UN Security Council ‘during the month of July’ explained a UN spokesperson. (LC)