Cyprus talks to start at the end of June

Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders are expected to start the talks for the reunification of the island at the end of June, Turkish Cypriot leader said on Saturday. Mehmet Ali Talat also reitreted his optimism for solution efforts.

The election of new Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias gave a new impetus to efforts to find a solution to Cyprus issue. The technical committees held their first formal meeting on Friday to make preparations for the comprehensive negotiations.

A positive atmosphere has been prevailing on Cyprus now, and the leaders are endeavoring to help this atmosphere lead to a solution, Talat told in a speech at the opening of the second "Northern Cyprus Summit of European Parliamentarians of Turkish Origin."

He said working groups would submit reports to the leaders about the topics on which consensus could and could not be reached.

"We (Cypriot leaders) are going to meet after three months, at the end of July, and start comprehensive negotiations," Talat was quoted as saying by the state-run Anatolian Agency.

Talat and Christofias met on Mar 21 and decided to revive reunification talks as well as to open another crossing point in the capital Nicosia as a goodwill gesture. The reunification talks are stalled since 2004 when the Greek Cypriots rejected a UN blueprint. Turkish Cypriots had overwhelmingly approved the plan. The rival leaders will meet on May 7.

"The solution will not be easy. Both parties have indispensable wishes. We will be in an effort to eliminate them and believe that international community should assist on the matter," Talat added.

The international community welcomes the renewed efforts. The UN Security Council on Friday expressed hope they will lead to the reunification of the island, as the Europen Union said it would support all efforts.

The EU's Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, said on Saturday the European Union would support all efforts that lead to a comprehensive solution coming from both Turkish and Greek parts, at his reply to motion brought to European Parliament regarding Cyprus, ANKA reported.