Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat held their first round of talks last week following the recent visit of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Over seven hours, the two exchanged views on the economy chapter and other issues.

They agreed for the working groups of both sides to meet to pick up where the two left off.

Speaking on his return to the presidential palace, Christofias said the two leaders also had a private meeting “where we freely exchanged views both on current issues which could be raised by one or the other side, but also on all aspects of the Cyprus problem”.

Asked whether Talat voiced a preference to continue discussions on the governance chapter which the two had covered in significant detail during intensified meetings in January, Christofias replied: “Talat can state whatever he likes.”

“I negotiate seriously and I will say what I have to say without many answers to questions which create additional issues for internal consumption and for frictions among the parties,” he added.

The president said the next three meetings in March will cover the chapters of economy, EU matters and property “and whatever else can be discussed, if there is time”.

For his part, Talat highlighted that the Greek Cypriot side had yet to agree to his request for an extra four meetings before ‘presidential elections’ in the north on April 18.

UN Special Adviser Alexander Downer said the two leaders still had “a significant number of aspects to the economy chapter” which “they need to go through”.

The two leaders will meet again for their second all-day session on Thursday.