24 January: The United Nations held six hours of "intensive" talks on Monday with the leaders of Cyprus as it began a new attempt to break a deadlock in peace talks. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon opened a two-day meeting with the divided isla

Alexander Downer, the UN special envoy to Cyprus said "I think the best way to describe the talks today is that they have been intensive right from the very beginning," he told reporters.    
 
"The secretary-general made his expectations clear this morning that he is looking for the leaders to make decisive moves," Downer said. "He also reminded the two leaders that they must keep the big vision of a United Cyprus in their sights."    

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