Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat began the session with a tête-à-tête at the UN Protected Area in Nicosia before moving into a plenary format for negotiations.

Speaking to reporters in Cyprus, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser Alexander Downer said that progress was “inching along” everyday, and that the two leaders are slated to continue negotiations on Tuesday.

Last year Mr. Christofias and Mr. Talat committed themselves to working towards “a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as defined by relevant Security Council resolutions.”

That partnership would comprise a Federal Government with a single international personality, along with a Turkish Cypriot Constituent State and a Greek Cypriot Constituent State, which would be of equal status.

Full-fledged power-sharing negotiations began in September 2008, focusing on concerns involving the harmonization of Federal and Constituent State laws, property issues and European Union membership.

News Tracker: past stories on this issue

Cyprus talks on federal government continue under UN auspices