Cypriot leaders may meet between March 17 and 24

Cyprus‘s newly elected President Demetris Christofias said on Thursday he was likely to meet Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat later in March, the first such meeting on the island in years.

Christofias was elected on Feb. 24 pledging to restart reunification talks between the Greek and Turkish communities on the island, whose division remains a hurdle to Turkey‘s European Union aspirations.

Christofias told reporters during his first visit to Athens as president that the meeting would be “exploratory”.

“It will probably be between the 17th and 24th of the current month,” he said. “We should not automatically assume that there will be a second and third meeting … Firstly we have to set an agenda with Mr. Talat.”

The Mediterranean island has been split since Turkey invaded in 1974 in response to a Greek-inspired coup in Nicosia.

Peace talks have been in limbo since 2004, when Greek Cypriot voters rejected a U.N. reunification plan shortly before joining the European Union.

The EU recognises the Greek-Cypriot government in the south of the island. The breakaway state in the north is recognised only by Turkey.

Diplomats say they hope Christofias will end the stalemate in negotiations, effectively frozen under his predecessor, Tassos Papadopoulos, who took a hardline stance against Turkish Cypriots.

Christofias said he was hopeful the division on the island would be solved during his five-year term.

“The only plan I have is to reunite the island,” he said. “Our wish and our efforts are to have the (Cyprus) issue solved during this term. If it was only up to us, I could say it will be solved. But it also depends on the other side.”

He also said it was necessary to gradually demilitarise the island, including removing the British bases that London has maintained on the island since its independence in 1960. But he added he would not demand the bases’ removal soon.

“Demilitarisation is our aim,” Christofias said. “Foreign troops should not be stationed there. We are against the bases (but) I have no plan to open such a front now.” (Reuters)