Greek Cypriots demolished a wall along the boundary that splits Europe’s last divided capital, Nicosia, early today.

The European Commission has threatened Turkey with the possible suspension of membership talks unless it does more to protect human rights and implements a customs pact with EU member Cyprus.

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.

Ireland and Cyprus today agreed to strengthen economic, trade and cultural ties between the two countries.

Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos today said relations with Britain were recovering from strain created by the launch of Turkey’s accession talks with the European Union earlier this month.

Blackened bodies, tattered luggage and smouldering debris lay scattered among the pine trees in a scenic Greek valley today after a Helios Airways flight slammed into a mountainside and filled the air with acrid smoke.

EU leaders and Turkey have made the historic decision to start membership talks next year, but the latest candidate immediately stirred up a row.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan today said the European Union should reward Turkey and Turkish Cypriots for their positive stance in the referendum on a UN plan to reunite the island, which they endorsed and Greek Cypriots rejected.

Polling is taking place in Cyprus today on a referendum aimed at securing a last-minute reunification of the island before it joins the European Union next month.

Gwynne Dyer says the proposal to unite Cyprus is destined to fail.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan was “disappointed” today that both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders are calling for the defeat of his plan to reunify their war divided nation.

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.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan handed Greek, Turkish and Cypriot officials his final plan for the reunification of Cyprus, stressing that “the time for decision and action has arrived”.

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

There is no hope of any progress in United Nations-led efforts to reunify war-divided Cyprus until elections are held in the Turkish-occupied northern part of the island, the Cypriot president says.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan was today warning the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders that any failure to agree on his unification plan would entrench the division of the Mediterranean island.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan presented his latest reunification plan for Cyprus to leaders of the Greek and Turkish sides yesterday, with a seven-day deadline for a deal.

Voting ended in the crucial Greek Cypriot presidential election today with exit polls showing opposition candidate Tassos Papadopoulos may emerge victorious.