Hopes Raised in Cyprus As Leaders Launch Fresh Reunification Talks

The leaders of the divided island of Cyprus began a new round of peace talks today that are seen as the most promising chance of reuniting the country after 34 years of division.

The president of the Republic of Cyprus, Dimitris Christofias, met the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat inside the UN-patrolled buffer zone that separates the two communities.

A chief aide to Talat, Ozdil Nami, said: "This is a historic day, a beautiful day. Both leaders will be sending a message of hope to their people, to the world, that they are willing to negotiate."

The last attempt at reunification collapsed in 2004 when Turkish Cypriots backed a UN settlement plan that was rejected by Greek Cypriots. As a result, Cyprus joined the EU that year as a divided island, with Turkish Cypriots denied membership benefits. An agreement would increase Turkey's hopes of joining the EU.

The UN special envoy Alexander Downer said the two leaders had to persuade their communities that a solution would benefit both sides. "The negotiations which you begin today can and must have a successful outcome," said Downer, a former Australian foreign minister.

"You own this process and, as a result, your continuing leadership is a critical element to make it succeed," he told them.

Cyprus — an island of fewer than one million inhabitants — has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded in response to a coup aimed at uniting the island with Greece.Turkey keeps 35,000 troops in the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north, and a small number of Greek troops are stationed in the south.

Past efforts to reach a settlement have been dashed by disagreements on issues including power-sharing, property rights for Greek Cypriot refugees and the nature of a future federation. But anticipation of progress has been raised by repeated commitments from Christofias and Talat toward finding a solution.