U.N.-sponsored talks in Switzerland aimed at ending a stalemate that has kept the island of Cyprus divided for more than four decades have ended without an agreement.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Friday, "Unfortunately...an agreement was not possible and the conference was closed without the possibility to bring a solution to this dramatically long-lasting problem."

Conference participants in the United Nations' attempt to reunite the island included the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders and representatives of the three guarantor powers -- Greece, Turkey and former colonial ruler Britain. Senior European Union officials were also in attendance.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and later occupied its northern third in response to an Athens-inspired uprising seeking union with Greece. Turkey maintains 35,000 Turkish troops in north Cyprus. The Greek community views them as a danger and wants them to leave. The Turkish Cypriots, however, see the troops as a guarantee of their safety.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the main sticking point in the Swiss talks was Greek and Greek Cypriot insistence that Turkey withdraw all of its troops from the island and for military intervention rights to be abolished.

Guterres said even though the talks had collapsed "that doesn't mean that other initiatives cannot be developed in order to address the Cyprus problem."

The secretary-general said, "The United Nations role is the role of a facilitator and we will be always at the disposal of the parties willing to come to an agreement..."

聯合國為結束塞浦路斯40多年分裂狀態在瑞士舉行的會談破裂，最終無法達成協議。

聯合國秘書長古鐵雷斯星期五說：“遺憾的是，這次會議無法達成協議，沒能為這一拖延已久的問題找到解決方案。”

參加這次會談的包括希臘裔和土耳其裔塞浦路斯領導人，以及希臘、土耳其和前殖民統治者英國這三個擔保方的代表。歐盟高級官員也出席的會談。

1974年，塞浦路斯的希臘裔武裝為加入希臘發動起義，土耳其為此出兵入侵塞浦路斯，隨后占領了塞浦路斯北方三分之一的土地。土耳其在北塞浦路斯駐扎著3萬5千人的部隊。希臘裔社區認為他們是威脅，希望駐軍撤走；土耳其裔塞浦路斯人卻把駐軍看做是對自己安全的保障。

土耳其外長恰武什奧盧說，瑞士會談的主要障礙是希臘和希臘裔塞浦路斯人堅持要求土耳其把駐軍全部撤走，并廢除軍事干預的權利。

聯合國秘書長古鐵雷斯說，雖然瑞士會談破裂，“但這并不意味著不能尋找解決塞浦路斯問題的其他辦法。”

古鐵雷斯說：“聯合國發揮的是協調者的作用，只要會談各方有達成協議的意愿，我們隨時愿意效勞。”

U.N.-sponsored talks in Switzerland aimed at ending a stalemate that has kept the island of Cyprus divided for more than four decades have ended without an agreement.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Friday, "Unfortunately...an agreement was not possible and the conference was closed without the possibility to bring a solution to this dramatically long-lasting problem."

Conference participants in the United Nations' attempt to reunite the island included the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders and representatives of the three guarantor powers -- Greece, Turkey and former colonial ruler Britain. Senior European Union officials were also in attendance.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and later occupied its northern third in response to an Athens-inspired uprising seeking union with Greece. Turkey maintains 35,000 Turkish troops in north Cyprus. The Greek community views them as a danger and wants them to leave. The Turkish Cypriots, however, see the troops as a guarantee of their safety.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the main sticking point in the Swiss talks was Greek and Greek Cypriot insistence that Turkey withdraw all of its troops from the island and for military intervention rights to be abolished.

Guterres said even though the talks had collapsed "that doesn't mean that other initiatives cannot be developed in order to address the Cyprus problem."

The secretary-general said, "The United Nations role is the role of a facilitator and we will be always at the disposal of the parties willing to come to an agreement..."

聯合國為結束塞浦路斯40多年分裂狀態在瑞士舉行的會談破裂，最終無法達成協議。

聯合國秘書長古鐵雷斯星期五說：“遺憾的是，這次會議無法達成協議，沒能為這一拖延已久的問題找到解決方案。”

參加這次會談的包括希臘裔和土耳其裔塞浦路斯領導人，以及希臘、土耳其和前殖民統治者英國這三個擔保方的代表。歐盟高級官員也出席的會談。

1974年，塞浦路斯的希臘裔武裝為加入希臘發動起義，土耳其為此出兵入侵塞浦路斯，隨后占領了塞浦路斯北方三分之一的土地。土耳其在北塞浦路斯駐扎著3萬5千人的部隊。希臘裔社區認為他們是威脅，希望駐軍撤走；土耳其裔塞浦路斯人卻把駐軍看做是對自己安全的保障。

土耳其外長恰武什奧盧說，瑞士會談的主要障礙是希臘和希臘裔塞浦路斯人堅持要求土耳其把駐軍全部撤走，并廢除軍事干預的權利。

聯合國秘書長古鐵雷斯說，雖然瑞士會談破裂，“但這并不意味著不能尋找解決塞浦路斯問題的其他辦法。”

古鐵雷斯說：“聯合國發揮的是協調者的作用，只要會談各方有達成協議的意愿，我們隨時愿意效勞。”