UN special envoy meets Turkish Cypriot leader to restart Cyprus talks

The U.N. secretary general's special representative in Cyprus, Michael Moller, met with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat on Friday in a bid to restart reunification talks.

A press release from Talat's office said the meeting took placeat Moller's request. No statements were made after their meeting.

Both Greek and Turkish Cypriots are expecting the talks to restart between Talat and Demetris Christofias, the Greek Cypriot leader who recently replaced Tassos Papadopoulos as the island state's new president.

Talat has sent a letter to U.N. chief Ban Ki Moon to clarify his position on the Cyprus issue, said his spokesman, who declined to reveal its details.

Moller, who plans to meet Christofias next Monday, is expected to arrange a meeting as soon as possible between the two leaders. The U.N. special envoy implied earlier this month that the lack of political will among the leaders of Cyprus' two communities was part of the cause for the decades-old division.

"Rather than launching a new initiative on its own, the U.N. will support good faith efforts on the part of both sides to restart talks and work for a solution," Moller said.

The two sides are at odds on the formation of a new federal state.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey sent troops to occupy the northern part of the island following a coup by a group of Greek officers pushing for union with Greece. Turkey has since maintained 40,000 troops in the Turkish Cypriot north.

In 1983, the Turkish Cypriot authorities set up "the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," which was recognized only by Turkey. For decades, the U.N. has been trying but failed to persuade the two communities to find a viable solution to the Cyprus issue.

In a referendum held in April 2004, Greek Cypriots under the leadership of Papadopoulos rejected a comprehensive settlement plan being pushed by then U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, while Turkish Cypriots approved it.