Leaders could meet this month

The leaders of the Greek and Turkish communities on divided Cyprus are expected to meet later this month to discuss ways to relaunch reunification talks, the top UN envoy said yesterday.

"I will start preparations for that meeting, probably towards the end of the second half of this month," UN resident representative Michael Moller told reporters after meeting Greek-Cypriot President Demetris Christofias.

It will be the first meeting between Turkish-Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and the Greek-Cypriot leader since Christofias won presidential elections on Feb 24, pledging to push for a settlement which has defied mediation for decades.