President Ersin Tatar said on Thursday that any new negotiations on the Cyprus problem could only begin with the recognition of the sovereign equality and equal international status of the two sides, as he prepares to meet with UN officials ahead of key meetings next week.

While efforts to break the impasse on the frozen Cyprus problem continue, negotiations will get further underway as President Ersin Tatar will discuss the matter with Colin Stewart, head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

The meeting will take place at 3 this afternoon.

The meeting will lay the groundwork for further UN contacts, with Rosemary DiCarlo, UN under-secretary-general for political and peace building affairs on March 15.

In a statement issued on Thursday, President Ersin Tatar reminded that any new negotiations on the Cyprus problem can only begin as and when the sovereign equality and international equal status of the Turkish Cypriot side is recognised.