NICOSIA, July 25: Greek and Turkish Cypriots agreed on Friday to launch talks in September to re-unite their island, whose continuing division is damaging Turkey’s chances of joining the European Union.

Cyprus’ President Demetris Christofias, the Greek Cypriot leader, and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat will start talks on Sept 3, ending a four-year impasse in efforts to bring the two communities together after decades of separation.

“The aim of the full-fledged negotiations is to find a mutually acceptable solution to the Cyprus problem which will safeguard the interests of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots,” said Taye-Brook Zerihoun, head of the UN mission on Cyprus.

He said any agreed proposals would be put to separate, simultaneous referendums in both communities. Peace talks collapsed in 2004 when in a referendum Greek Cypriots rejected a UN blueprint for reunification, accepted by Turkish Cypriots.

The political climate has changed since February, when moderate Christofias replaced Tassos Papadopoulos, a hardliner who led Greek Cypriot rejection of the earlier plan.

Talat, like Christofias a leftist, faces parliamentary elections by 2009 in his northern Cypriot breakaway state, which is recognised only by its backer Turkey, and presidential elections in 2010.

His party now holds a majority in the legislature, but there has been growing discontent at a worsening economic outlook, and charges from opposition parties that he could concede too much to the Greek Cypriots.

“I think this is a step forward, it’s a positive development,” Christofias told reporters. “There is a lot we agree on, a lot we disagree on, it’s all a matter of a constructive stance of the sides.”

Divided in a 1974 Turkish invasion triggered by a brief Athens-inspired coup, Cyprus has frustrated a long list of mediators attempting to reconcile the island’s two communities in a bizonal bicommunal federation.

Turkey and Britain, which are guarantor powers of Cypriot sovereignty under the 1960 independence treaties of the former British colony, welcomed the decision for talks. Turkey has some 30,000 troops in northern Cyprus, and Britain two strategic military bases in the south.

“Turkey has supported the process from the beginning. We wanted the atmosphere that emerged after 2004’s referendum to change,” said a Turkish foreign ministry official.

“But it is necessary to be cautious. It remains to be seen how much the expectations of the Turkish Cypriots will be met.”

Britain’s Minister for Europe Jim Murphy said: “We look forward to the start of negotiations which, despite the challenges ahead, offer a real opportunity to solve the Cyprus problem for this and future generations.”

UN reaction: UN chief Ban Ki-moon hailed a decision by rival Cypriot leaders to begin full-fledged talks on ending the 34-year-old division of the Mediterranean island and pledged his full support for their efforts.

“The secretary-general warmly welcomes the agreement today ...to launch full-fledged negotiations on September 3 aimed at reaching a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem,” UN spokeswoman Michele Montas told a press briefing.

She said in a statement that Ban commended the (Cypriot) leaders for the progress made so far on the issue.—Agencies