NICOSIA, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- A United Nations (UN) envoy met separately with Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders on Monday, inviting them to an expanded meeting aimed at reviving stalled Cyprus peace negotiations in March.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacebuilding, Rosemary Di Carlo, visited the divided eastern Mediterranean island as part of preparations for a five-party meeting involving the two Cypriot leaders and representatives of the three guarantor powers: Greece, Türkiye, and the United Kingdom.

Peace talks have been stalled since the collapse of a similar conference in Switzerland in July 2017. Since then, Türkiye and the Turkish Cypriots have hardened their stance, advocating permanent partition and international recognition of a breakaway state established by Türkiye in 1983.

Cyprus was divided in 1974 after a Turkish military operation in response to a coup by Greek army officers.

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, in his capacity as Greek Cypriot leader, said Di Carlo invited both sides to a UN-led meeting before March 20.

Di Carlo said discussions focused on preparations for the upcoming extended meeting in Geneva, with a formal announcement expected soon. "I assured the President of the UN Secretary-General's commitment to assisting both sides in moving forward."

Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar said the informal meeting may take place on March 17-18 in Geneva and confirmed his positive response to the invitation. However, he again rejected UN-backed proposals for a federal Cyprus with power-sharing and equal political rights, reaffirming his call for a two-state solution that would grant formal recognition to a sovereign Turkish Cypriot state. The self-declared Turkish Cypriot state is recognized only by Türkiye.

Di Carlo will continue her consultations in Athens on Wednesday and Ankara on Thursday. Enditem

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