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UN chief optimistic over Cyprus UN chief begins talks on Cyprus
(about 7 hours later)
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said "a solution is possible and within reach" ahead of a fresh round of talks aimed at reuniting Cyprus. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has begun a fresh round of talks aimed at reuniting Cyprus, saying "a solution is possible and within reach".
Mr Ban was speaking after he arrived in Larnaca for the talks with Greek and Turkish-Cypriot leaders on Monday. He was speaking before talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. He is also due to meet Greek Cypriot President Demetris Christofias.
He said reaching a deal required "courage, flexibility and vision as well as a spirit of compromise". The two leaders have been locked in peace talks for the past 16 months.
The rival Cypriot leaders have been locked in peace talks for the past 16 months. Mr Ban said reaching a deal required "courage, flexibility and vision as well as a spirit of compromise".
'Grindingly slow' progress
"I am under no illusion that the Cyprus problem is easy to solve or about the difficulties you face," Mr Ban told reporters."I am under no illusion that the Cyprus problem is easy to solve or about the difficulties you face," Mr Ban told reporters.
"At the same time I'm confident that a solution is possible and within reach," he added."At the same time I'm confident that a solution is possible and within reach," he added.
He is due to hold talks with Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot Mehmet Ali Talat on Monday. 'Grindingly slow' progress
Ahead of Monday's talks with Mr Talat, about 50 demonstrators gathered in Larnaca chanting "We want peace now!"
Following Mr Ban's talks with the individual leaders, the three men are due to hold a joint meeting.
A UN-administered boundary currently separates Cyprus
Peace talks were launched amid much optimism and fanfare in September 2008.Peace talks were launched amid much optimism and fanfare in September 2008.
But progress has been grindingly slow and time may be running out to find a solution, the BBC's Europe correspondent Jonny Dymond says. But progress has been grindingly slow and time may be running out to find a solution, says the BBC's Europe correspondent Jonny Dymond.
Whilst agreement appears near on one dossier - governance - others such as territory and property, let alone security, seem way out of reach, our correspondent says. Whilst agreement appears near on one issue - governance - others such as territory and property, let alone security, seem way out of reach, our correspondent says.
Talat's headache
There are also concerns that talks could be shelved if Mr Talat, who is seen as a moderate, loses April's leadership election in northern Cyprus to nationalist candidate Dervis Eroglu, who is currently leading in opinion polls.There are also concerns that talks could be shelved if Mr Talat, who is seen as a moderate, loses April's leadership election in northern Cyprus to nationalist candidate Dervis Eroglu, who is currently leading in opinion polls.
Northern Cyprus is recognised as a state only by Turkey.Northern Cyprus is recognised as a state only by Turkey.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish forces invaded the island in response to a Greek-led coup apparently aimed at making it part of Greece.Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish forces invaded the island in response to a Greek-led coup apparently aimed at making it part of Greece.
The last attempt at a negotiated solution to the Cypriot problem - in 2004 - collapsed when Turkish Cypriots voted in favour of a UN settlement plan, but Greek Cypriots rejected it.The last attempt at a negotiated solution to the Cypriot problem - in 2004 - collapsed when Turkish Cypriots voted in favour of a UN settlement plan, but Greek Cypriots rejected it.
As a result, Cyprus - or the southern part ruled by Greek Cypriots - joined the European Union that year, while the north remained effectively excluded.As a result, Cyprus - or the southern part ruled by Greek Cypriots - joined the European Union that year, while the north remained effectively excluded.