U.N. Security Council member states must take part in a future summit aiming to remove a key stumbling block to a deal reunifying ethnically divided Cyprus, the island's government spokesman said Monday. Nicos Christodoulides told The Associated Press that Security Council members have expressed their readiness to "actively and effectively take part" in such a summit, and that he expects their participation. He said that the U.N. Security Council, which has been involved in Cyprus talks for more than five decades, should ensure the implementation of a peace accord — something that concerns both Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Next month's summit will again take up the key issue of how post-reunification security will be handled, something that has long stumped peace talks. Turkish Cypriots insist Turkey is the only power they can trust to protect them from any troubles if a peace deal goes awry.

Source: ABC News February 06, 2017 11:54 UTC