Leaders of divided Cyprus in fresh attempt to create federation

Geneva (dpa) - The Greek and Turkish leaders of Cyprus were set to launch new UN-brokered talks in Geneva on Monday, as they seek to turn their divided island into a federation of two equal parts.A breakthrough could end the island‘s 40-year conflict and remove a key dispute that has marred relations between the European Union and Turkey.However, expectations are muted that it will be the final round of talks between Nikos Anastasiades, the leader of the southern Greek side, and Mustafa Akinci, his counterpart from the northern side of the Mediterranean island.The previous round held near Geneva ended without a breakthrough in November.The sides have not been able to agree on the partial return of territory on the Turkish half to its original Greek Cypriot owners.The security of a new, federal Cyprus is another sensitive topic. Turkish Cypriots want Turkey to remain as their protective power, but their Greek counterparts are opposed to the idea.If there is substantial progress, a formal conference will be convened on Thursday in Geneva that will also include Greece and Turkey as the so-called guarantor powers of the two halves of Cyprus, as well as Britain, the former colonial power on the island.Any final agreement would still need to be approved by the two peoples of Cyprus in separate referenda.Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when a Greek coup was followed by a military invasion from Turkey.