Negotiations on the reunification of Cyprus may resume on Feb. 9, Turkish television station NTV reported on Friday.

The United States hopes that negotiations on the reunification of the two states in Cyprus will resume in Geneva as early as Feb.9, said the NTV.

Following US Secretary of State Colin Powell's phone call, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is expected to decide on inviting all related parties in the Cyprus dispute to initiate a further round of negotiations, according to the report.

Annan is to send a conditional invitation next week to all related sides in the Cyprus issue, the NTV said, adding he would request that both sides in Cyprus to make commitment to hold referendum on the proposals put forward by Annan even if they do not reach full accord during the talks.

Turkey is waiting for a call from the UN chief about the possible time of resumption of the Cyprus talks, which broke down last March, Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer was quoted assaying.

Diplomatic sources in Washington have said that Turkey was ready to give its guarantee if Greece and Greek Cyprus accept the UN initiative.
 
(Xinhua News Agency January 31, 2004)