NICOSIA, 6 March, 2021 (TON): European Union (EU) affirms its commitments to support the upcoming talks on Cyprus issue, says, Josep Borrell, the bloc's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

"The UN work on the ground is essential for confidence building. Upcoming UN informal 5+1 talks provide an opportunity towards an urgently needed resumption of talks. The EU is strongly committed to support these efforts," Borell tweeted after meeting the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative in Cyprus Elizabeth Spehar on Friday.

His comments pointed towards the UN-led conference that will decide the terms and modalities of renewed Cyprus negotiations under the UN-Secretary Genereal, Antonio Guterres.

Participants will comprise leaders from the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities and representatives of Greece, Turkey and the UK, the three "guarantor powers" that signed a 1960 Treaty that led to the independence of Cyprus and the establishment of the Cypriot state.

Also on Thursday, the top EU official held talks with the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, saying, "Engaging in UN 5+1 talks is essential, for the benefit of all Cypriots, the region and the EU. There is a real opportunity that needs to be seized."

However, there is an ongoing dispute between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots that were to be resolved in 2014 as the talks began but yet no consensus is reached to solve it.