Cyprus: Difficulties remain in restarting peace talks

UN envoy Jane Holl Lute, right, talks with chief negotiator for Greek Cypriots Andreas Mavroyiannis as the leave the presidential palace after a meeting with Cyprus' president Nikos Anastasiades in the divided capital of Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, April 7, 2019. Lute is in Cyprus to hold a fresh round of consultations with everyone involved in stalled efforts to reunify ethnically split Cyprus in order to prepare the groundwork for a hoped-for resumption of negotiations. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

UN envoy Jane Holl Lute leaves the presidential palace after a meeting with Cyprus' president Nikos Anastasiades in the divided capital of Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, April 7, 2019. Lute is in Cyprus to hold a fresh round of consultations with everyone involved in stalled efforts to reunify ethnically split Cyprus in order to prepare the groundwork for a hoped-for resumption of negotiations. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)

NICOSIA, Cyprus – Cypriot government officials say there are "very serious difficulties" in rekindling formal talks to reunify the ethnically split island nation.

But they insisted Tuesday there will be no easing up in United Nations-assisted efforts to get Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots back to the negotiating table.

Andreas Mavroyiannis, the chief negotiator for the majority Greek Cypriots, said there's no other option but to resume talks, although expectations for an immediate restart are low.

U.N. official Jane Holl Lute has been shuttling between the two sides to help revive the process.

Breakaway Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci again accused Greek Cypriots of wavering on giving Turkish Cypriots a say in all decision-making in an envisioned federation.

Anastasiades replied that Akinci's demands aim to put Cyprus under Turkey's "complete control."