Nicosia - UN and Cypriot sources agree that a political settlement on the reunification of Cyprus, divided since 1974, could be achieved by June, writes Michael Jansen in Nicosia.
The UN representative, Mr Alvaro de Soto, stated: "I think a solution is possible within the next six months. My impression is that there is a determination by the two leaders to reach agreement."
Mr de Soto attended both Tuesday's breakthrough meeting at which the two sides agreed to resume direct talks in mid-January and Wednesday's dinner bringing together for the first time in 27 years the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders.
Once talks resume, President Glafkos Clerides and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktash, are expected to meet three times a week in Mr de Soto's presence until they achieve a political settlement. Cyprus's accession to the EU in 2004 imposes a time frame of just one year for the two sides to resolve their differences.
