Cyprus reunification talks still unclear

Leaders of ethnically divided Cyprus held a four-hour meeting yesterday and the two men will meet again on July 25 for a final review of preparations for reunification talks, the UN said yesterday.

Diplomats tentatively expect leaders of the estranged Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities to start reunification talks in the autumn, hoping to ease a deadlock which is complicating Turkey's bid to join the EU.

Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias met in the presence of UN officials yesterday but no firm date emerged for a start to talks.

A source familiar with the consultations told Reuters the debate between the leaders had been "heated" at times.

"They have agreed to meet on July 25 where they will undertake a final review of the working groups and the technical committees," UN envoy Taye-Brook Zerihoun said after the meeting, reading from a joint statement by the two leaders.

It was not immediately clear whether the reference to a "final review" suggested a definitive decision on July 25 on whether and when to move into fully fledged peace negotiations.