UNITED NATIONS, June 6 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed on Friday the "decisive steps" taken by political leaders in Cyprus recently, saying that "a window of opportunity to finally resolve the Cyprus problem is clearly open."

    In his latest report on Cyprus to the Security Council, Ban said he was particularly "heartened" that the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities have already taken "decisive steps towards their shared objective of resuming negotiations aimed at a comprehensive settlement."

    The two leaders agreed in March to restart talks on uniting the island, a move that was touted as the first serious effort in two years to end the division.

    Ban said the agreement of March 21 and the joint statement of May 23 are clear indicators of the renewed political will to seek a solution to the Cyprus problem.

    The secretary-general said he is firmly committed to helping the leaders move forward to the formal talks as expeditiously and smoothly as possible and he intends to appoint a special adviser at the appropriate time.

    Ban expressed his belief that the UN peacekeeping mission, or UNFICYP, will continue to play a vital role on the island and recommended that the Security Council extend its mandate by six months, until Dec. 15.