Diplomats, UN officials and campaigners say there is reason to be hopeful as second week of negotiations begins Cyprus reunification talks have moved into their most critical phase yet after leaders representing the island’s Greek and Turkish communities submitted position papers on how an envisioned federal state would work in practice. As negotiations entered a second week, delegates, diplomats, peace campaigners and UN officials overseeing the process in Switzerland spoke optimistically of a settlement being in sight. If convergence could be found on security arrangements – the most vexing of all the complex inner workings of a new united Cyprus – the contours of a solution could also be outlined, sources told the Guardian. Continue reading...