Nicosia - Talks on the reunification of Cyprus are expected to open in mid-October at West Point in New York, Michael Jansen reports. The UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, is expected to issue invitations to President Glafkos Clerides of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktash, at the end of the month, after the Turkish Prime Minister, Mr Bulent Ecevit, meets President Clinton, who is said to be prepared to intervene personally to break the deadlock.
The plan is for three weeks of intensive talks in a secluded environment, followed by a break of three weeks and resumption towards the end of November. The newly appointed US ambassador to UN, Mr Richard Holbrooke, former presidential envoy on the Cyprus problem, is said to be deeply involved in the quest for a settlement.