The UN chief also met with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman and was scheduled to hold joint meetings with both later Tuesday and Wednesday. The first visit by a UN chief in 16 years came during renewed efforts to resume formal peace talks after a nearly decade-long hiatus. Turkish Cypriots declared independence in the island’s northern third in 1983 but it’s only recognised by Turkiye, which maintains more than 35,000 troops there. Turkish Cypriots say the majority Greek Cypriots refuse to equally share power even under a federal deal. Earlier this month, Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz repeated Ankara’s support for a two-state accord granting international recognition for the breakaway Turkish Cypriots.