Cyprus reunification talks fail to commence
The rival leaders of ethnically divided Cyprus have failed to agree on resuming stalled talks aimed at reunifying the country.
Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades (photo) and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu said after an informal meeting Monday that obstacles remain in restarting full-fledged peace negotiations.
Cyprus was split into an internationally recognized Greek Cypriot south and a breakaway Turkish Cypriot north in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup by supporters of union with Greece.
The two sides can’t agree on a joint statement sketching out how the small country of roughly a million people would be reunified.
Anastasiades says a statement clearly saying what talks should aim for is essential in avoiding long, inconclusive talks.
Eroglu says a statement is unnecessary since all issues would be taken up in negotiations. [AP]
