Turk Cypriot leader says peace deal chances “high”

Peace talks on ethnically divided Cyprus could produce a deal by early next year, Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat said on Friday.

"If we miss this opportunity, we may not find one again," Talat told Reuters in an interview.

Talat represents the Turkish Cypriot community in reunification talks with Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias. The two communities, which have been estranged for more than three decades, started talks to reunify Cyprus in September 2008.

"My target is for a solution by the end of the year, and a referendum at the beginning of 2010," said Talat. "The chance (of a solution by then) is quite high." (