Cyprus reunification talks to continue

Cyprus’ rival leaders ended their first major meeting aimed at reunifying the war-divided island today, with negotiations to continue next week.

Cyprus president Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat met for more than four hours at an abandoned airport inside the UN-controlled buffer zone.

The two began the latest talks on September 3 – the first negotiations in four years on the divided Mediterranean island’s future.

Special United Nations envoy Alexander Downer said the two leaders would not make any comments to the press after today’s meeting, but they would meet again next Thursday to continue negotiations.

Cyprus was divided in 1974, when Turkey invaded in response to a coup aimed at uniting the island with Greece.

The two leaders have promised to work toward a solution in an unprecedented display of joint commitment that has raised expectations for an end to the decades-long deadlock.

Mr Christofias and Mr Talat have agreed in principle on a future federal structure, but remain at odds on the power of central government.

Turkish Cypriots seek a loose federation, fearing dominance by Greek Cypriots who outnumber them by roughly four to one.

However, Mr Christofias wants a stronger central government and more limited regional powers to prevent Cyprus sliding back into partition.

Other contentious issues include whether Turkey will maintain a military presence on the island and whether Ankara will keep intervention rights granted when gained Cyprus independence from Britain in 1960.