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UN chief begins talks on Cyprus UN chief urges courage in Cyprus
(about 4 hours later)
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". The UN secretary-general says he is encouraged by efforts to find a permanent solution to the division of Cyprus.
He was speaking before talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. He is also due to meet Greek Cypriot President Demetris Christofias. But Ban Ki-moon said more courage was needed after talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot President Demetris Christofias.
The two leaders have been locked in peace talks for the past 16 months. The two leaders have been locked in negotiations for the past 16 months.
Mr Ban said reaching a deal required "courage, flexibility and vision as well as a spirit of compromise". Mr Ban said he was encouraged by a "shared commitment for a comprehensive solution as early as possible".
"I am under no illusion that the Cyprus problem is easy to solve or about the difficulties you face," Mr Ban told reporters. But while he spoke of convergence on some areas, it is clear that many issues remain unresolved, says the BBC's Tabitha Morgan in Nicosia.
"At the same time I'm confident that a solution is possible and within reach," he added.
'Grindingly slow' progress'Grindingly slow' progress
Ahead of Monday's talks with Mr Talat, about 50 demonstrators gathered in Larnaca chanting "We want peace now!" Flanked by the two men after meeting each separately, and then together, Mr Ban said: "We will need even more courage and determination in the period ahead to bring these talks to a successful conclusion."
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 CyprusA 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, analysts say.
But progress has been grindingly slow and time may be running out to find a solution, says the BBC's Europe correspondent Jonny Dymond. The two leaders said there had been progress in the past three weeks over issues such as governance and power-sharing.
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. Whilst agreement appears near on certain issues, others such as territory and property, let alone security, seem seem harder to resolve, our correspondent says.
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.