Cyprus leaders to launch peace talks on Sept 3 (Reuters)

By Simon Bahceli and Michele Kambas Fri Jul 25, 12:43 PM ET NICOSIA (Reuters) - Greek and Turkish Cypriots agreed on Friday to launch talks in September to re-unite their island, whose continuing division is damaging Turkey's chances of joining the EU. Cyprus' President Demetris Christofias, the Greek Cypriot leader, and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat will start talks on September 3, ending a four-year impasse in efforts to bring the two communities together after decades of separation. "The aim of the full-fledged negotiations is to find a mutually acceptable solution to the Cyprus problem which will safeguard the interests of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots," said Taye-Brook Zerihoun, head of the U.N. mission on Cyprus. He said any agreement would be put to separate, simultaneous referendums in both... [read full story]