Cypriot leaders agree to open a new crossing gate

Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and his Greek Cypriot counterpart Demetris Christofias are expected to announce the opening of the gate following their 34th meeting aimed at finding a comprehensive solution to end the decades-long division of the island in Nicosia on Friday.

Christofias and Talat pledged last year to open the Yesilirmak, Limnitis in Greek, crossing gate as a much needed confidence measure to bolster unification talks.

There are six crossings bridging the divide to help facilitate the movement of people and goods and the United Nations is encouraging the opening of more crossings to help break down the barriers of mistrust between the two communities.

Cyprus has been divided since 1964 when Turkish Cypriots were forced to withdraw into enclaves.

Re-launched in September 2008 after a four-year hiatus, Talat and Christofias have been involved in U.N.-sponsored unification talks aimed at reaching an agreement to end the island's decades-long division. But little progress has been made so far.

The talks mark the first major push for peace since the failure of a U.N. reunification plan in 2004, which was approved by Turkish Cypriots but overwhelmingly rejected by Greek Cypriots.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso urged Cypriots on Thursday to seize a "historic chance" to reunify their divided island in Nicosia where he met both Talat and Christofias.

The U.N. Security Council strongly urged the leaders last month "to increase the momentum in the negotiations to ensure the full exploitation of this opportunity to reach a comprehensive settlement."