Cyprus will always collaborate with Greece in the search of a solution to the Cyprus problem, said Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos on Sunday.

Papadopoulos made the remarks after a meeting in New York with Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bacoyiannis on the sideline of the session of the 62nd UN General Assembly, the Cyprus News Agency reported.

"As always we have reaffirmed, the targets, efforts and tactics (in our search of a Cyprus settlement) are common," Papadopoulos said.

He told reporters that he discussed latest developments concerning the Cyprus problem with the Greek foreign minister, who also briefed him about her meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday.

President Papadopoulos will meet the UN chief later Sunday on how to break the deadlock of the reunification talks between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities on the eastern Mediterranean island.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey militarily intervened and occupied the north of the island following a coup by a group of Greek officers who pushed for union with Greece.

For several decades, the UN have spared no efforts in persuading the two communities to find a viable comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

But in a referendum held in April 2004, Greek Cypriots rejected a settlement plan by the then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan because it would not meet their aspiration for the island's reunification, while Turkish Cypriots approved it.

A recent meeting between Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, who plans to meet Ban Ki-moon next month, failed again to make any breakthrough.

Source: Xinhua

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