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| Cyprus may hold early peace talks | Cyprus may hold early peace talks |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The new President of Cyprus, Demetris Christofias, says he expects to meet the Turkish Cypriot leader between 17 and 24 March to revive peace talks. | The new President of Cyprus, Demetris Christofias, says he expects to meet the Turkish Cypriot leader between 17 and 24 March to revive peace talks. |
| Mr Christofias said earlier that he had asked the United Nations to arrange a meeting with Mehmet Ali Talat. | |
| Both leaders have voiced optimism that they can make progress towards reunification of the island. | Both leaders have voiced optimism that they can make progress towards reunification of the island. |
| Decades of diplomatic efforts have failed to reunite the ethnic Greek and Turkish communities. | Decades of diplomatic efforts have failed to reunite the ethnic Greek and Turkish communities. |
| Last month, Mr Talat congratulated Mr Christofias on his election triumph and said: "I believe that it won't be a surprise if we solve the problem by the end of 2008". | Last month, Mr Talat congratulated Mr Christofias on his election triumph and said: "I believe that it won't be a surprise if we solve the problem by the end of 2008". |
| Mr Talat also called on Mr Christofias, a left-wing leader, to resume negotiations as soon as possible. | Mr Talat also called on Mr Christofias, a left-wing leader, to resume negotiations as soon as possible. |
| The Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been divided since 1974, when Turkey sent troops into the north, after a coup by Greek Cypriots who wanted union with Greece. | The Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been divided since 1974, when Turkey sent troops into the north, after a coup by Greek Cypriots who wanted union with Greece. |
| Greek Cypriots rejected a UN peace plan in a referendum in 2004, while Turkish Cypriots accepted it. | Greek Cypriots rejected a UN peace plan in a referendum in 2004, while Turkish Cypriots accepted it. |
| The BBC's Tabitha Morgan in Cyprus says significant issues that have scuppered all previous diplomatic initiatives remain to be tackled. These include the Turkish troop presence in the north of the island. | The BBC's Tabitha Morgan in Cyprus says significant issues that have scuppered all previous diplomatic initiatives remain to be tackled. These include the Turkish troop presence in the north of the island. |
| The island's partition has long stood as an obstacle to Turkey's bid to join the EU, and remains a source of contention between Nato allies Turkey and Greece. | The island's partition has long stood as an obstacle to Turkey's bid to join the EU, and remains a source of contention between Nato allies Turkey and Greece. |
| The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is only recognised by Turkey. | The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is only recognised by Turkey. |