Nicosia: The Cyprus issue, bilateral relations, and regional developments were the focus of a telephone conversation between President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Monday morning. According to Cyprus News Agency, the two leaders agreed to hold their first meeting in September, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly high-level week. A written statement by Government Spokesperson, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, noted that President Christodoulides warmly congratulated Burnham on assuming office and wished him success in his new duties. Letymbiotis stated that during their phone call, the leaders referred to the historic and multifaceted bilateral relations between Cyprus and the United Kingdom, which have recently entered a particularly close and substantive phase. They also discussed significant prospects for further deepening cooperation between the two countries in key areas of mutual interest. The two leaders also talked about EU-UK relations. Pr esident Christodoulides emphasized that strengthening these ties is a priority of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union, highlighting the strategic importance of closer relations between London and Brussels. He reaffirmed Cyprus's readiness to continue playing a constructive role in further strengthening EU-UK cooperation, as stated by the Spokesperson. On the Cyprus issue, President Christodoulides reiterated that its resolution remains his top priority. He briefed the British Prime Minister on ongoing efforts by the UN Secretary-General and stressed the importance of the current momentum for resuming meaningful negotiations within the agreed framework, as set out in relevant UN Security Council resolutions. In this context, President Christodoulides underlined the important role the United Kingdom can play, as a guarantor power, permanent member of the UN Security Council, and penholder for resolutions on Cyprus, in efforts to resume the negotiating process from where it left off, the Spokesperson added. The leaders also exchanged views on regional developments and the situation in the Middle East, agreeing to remain in close contact with a shared commitment to further strengthening Cyprus-UK cooperation, Letymbiotis concluded. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana, ended inconclusively.