Cyprus peace talks will resume Sept 10

Cyprus said it expected peace talks to resume next week, after the opening round of new negotiations was postponed because of a row over Greek Cypriot pilgrims.
"The talks will continue as usual on September 10 in line with the dates originally set before the summer break," said Stefanos Stefanou, a spokesman for the Greek Cypriot government.
The Greek Cypriots cancelled Thursday's scheduled talks with Turkish Cypriots after more than 500 pilgrims turned back from an attempt to visit a church in northern Cyprus, under Turkish Cypriot control.
The Greek Cypriots said the Turkish Cypriots had imposed prohibitive crossing restrictions and the Turkish Cypriots said the pilgrims had flouted crossing rules.
"Events such as these charge emotions and the climate, so we considered that meeting the following day would not be the best timing," Stefanou said.
Cyprus's estranged Greek and Turkish communities began peace talks in September 2008. The international community wants to see progress this year, worried that momentum could be lost if there is a change in the Turkish Cypriot leadership in early 2010, when presidential elections are due.
The island has been split since a Turkish invasion in 1974 sparked by a brief Greek-led coup. The conflict has complicated Turkish hopes of joining the European Union, where the Greek Cypriot government represents the island.
Turkey does not recognise the Greek Cypriot government, and supports a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in north Cyprus.
Thursday's Greek Cypriot newspapers were scathing about the incident at the crossing point on Wednesday, describing the pilgrimage, designed to improve ties between the two sides, as a "fiasco".
"It was a Greek Cypriot bungle mixed with Turkish Cypriot obstinacy," the daily Politis wrote.