Cyprus leaders seek deal in 'historic opportunity' for peace

The leaders of both sides of ethnically divided Cyprus began new unification talks today but sought to temper hopes of a swift breakthrough, though its UN envoy said a deal to resolve one of Europe's most enduring conflicts was within reach.

Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, launched a week of consultations in Geneva to tackle dozens of disagreements stemming from the 1974 division of the Mediterranean island. The talks will focus initially on how to handle property disputes stretching back more than 40 years.

But with several past reconciliation efforts having failed, both leaders have been careful this week to cool expectations of a quick fix. The United Nations special envoy for Cyprus also said that the talks were open-ended.

"We are now in the final moment. We are now really in the moment of truth. This is actually where will find out if this can be solved," said Espen Barth Eide, a Norwegian diplomat appointed to the UN envoy's job in 2014.

"I'm not saying on a specific date. Because it's open-ended," told a news briefing, urging islanders estranged for decades to "seize the moment".

The talks are scheduled to broaden on...