Turkish Cypriot leader says Greek Cypriot rejects bi-zonal status

LEFKOSA (A.A) - December 12, 2011 - Turkish Cypriot President Dervis Eroglu said on Monday the Greek Cypriot side had rejected bi-zonal status of a unified Cypriot state. "Today's meeting was a bit hard. Greek Cypriot side refuses bi-zonal status. They have proposed that the bi-zonal status would vanish in a Cypriot federation following a transition period and the composition of the population would be one to four, one Turkish Cypriot to four Greek Cypriots," Eroglu told reporters after Monday's meeting with Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias in their reunification negotiations.  Eroglu said bi-zonal status of a federative Cypriot state was a one of the substantial ground rules in a UN-brokered settlement, adding that he would continue to insist on the bi-zonal status.  The two leaders are set to meet again next Monday. They are scheduled to meet on January 3 and 9 before a planned meeting with UN secretary general on January 22-24.