Britain is “very hopeful” that full-fledged talks to reunify ethnically divided Cyprus will be launched in September, a senior Foreign Office official said today.

The leaders of Cyprus’s rival Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities were meeting today to try to clear up disagreements which have strained attempts to reunify the ethnically divided island.

Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders agreed today to resume peace talks on reunifying the island, and to open a crossing in the heart of the divided capital.

Cyprus’ new president pledged to open new crossing points on the divided island and to work towards demilitarising it under a possible reunification deal.

The decades-long division of Cyprus could be resolved by the end of the year, the leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots said today.

Greek and Turkish Cypriots alike have voiced their support for the bulldozing of one of Europe’s most enduring symbols of division.

A highly critical report to be released next week accuses Turkey of dragging its heels in political reforms and demands significant improvements in 2007 if Ankara is to stay on track to join the European Union.

The European Union today cancelled a meeting in Helsinki set for Sunday and Monday with the foreign ministers of Cyprus and Turkey, which it had called to prevent the collapse of Turkey’s EU membership talks.

Turkish Grand Prix officials are confident of staging next year’s race, despite being handed the largest fine in motorsport history.

Turkish Grand Prix organisers have been spared the axing of next year’s race from the Formula One calendar.

Turkish Grand Prix organisers will today learn whether next year’s event in Istanbul will be scrapped from the Formula One calendar.

Turkish Grand Prix organisers have been summoned before world governing body the FIA, accused of breaching Formula One rules.

British foreign secretary Jack Straw expressed hope today that renewed Turkish initiatives would help resolve the Cyprus dispute, which threatens to hinder Ankara’s efforts to join the European Union, Turkish media said.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw was greeted with angry criticism from Cyprus’ president as he arrived on the divided island in hopes of gauging support for a stalled UN. peace plan.

Turkish Cypriots in the north of the divided island celebrated independence today, while Greek Cypriots protested in the internationally-recognised south.

European Parliament President Josep Borell today urged the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders to renew efforts toward ending the island’s 31-year division.

European Union ambassadors have failed to find a breakthrough on a joint negotiating position for Turkey’s membership talks and could not agree on a common response to Ankara’s refusal to recognise EU member Cyprus.

Newly elected Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat was sworn in as president of the breakaway state today, a year after Greek Cypriots rejected a reunification plan in a referendum.

The European Union head office welcomed the election victory of Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat today, saying the support for the of pro-EU politician confirmed the “strong desire” on the Turkish Cypriot side for reunification of Cyprus.

Early results indicated pro-EU Premier Mehmet Ali Talat was leading the presidential ballot today in the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state with 57% of the votes counted.

Turkish Cypriots are voting for a new government, after the governing coalition of Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat collapsed last October.

The shaky coalition governing Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus resigned today after months of confusion in the minority government following a failed referendum to reunite the divided island.

THE EU have pledged €260 million in aid to Turkish Cypriots who saw their chance membership of the bloc evaporate when Greek Cypriots rejected reunification.

The Turkish Cypriot premier has written to European Union officials, formally asking that Cyprus’s EU membership be temporarily suspended, the Turkish Cypriot news agency TAK reported.

Greek Cypriots poured scorn on the UN reunification plan for their island today while Turkish Cypriots described the blueprint – which will go to parallel referendums next month – as a success.

Talks aimed at reunifying Cyprus began today with the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot leaders sitting down with the UN mediator in Nicosia.

Just hours before Cyprus' reunification talks were scheduled to begin today, a small bomb exploded in front of the home of the prime minister of the self-declared Turkish Cypriot state.

Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash today surprisingly appointed the leader of a pro-EU party to form the next government in the breakaway state.