UN chief urges international backing to reunify Cyprus

Ban told reporters Monday that newly elected Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have agreed to talks, and he is sending U.N. political chief B. Lynn Pascoe to Cyprus as head of a team that will assess prospects for a breakthrough.

In a 2004 referendum, a U.N. reunification plan was rejected by Greek Cypriot voters and accepted by Turkish Cypriots.

The election last month of the communist-rooted Christofias has rekindled efforts to end Cyprus 34-year-old division through direct talks between the two communities. Christofias defeated former President Tassos Papadopoulos, who had opposed power-sharing plans promoted by the U.N., arguing they would hurt Greek Cypriot rights.

"I think the international community should seize the momentum and window of opportunity when Mr. Christofias, the new Cyprus leader, was elected and is committed to resolution of this issue," Ban told reporters after his monthly lunch with the Security Council where Cyprus was one of the issues discussed.

"I met Mr. Talat during my stay in Dakar, Senegal, and he also expressed his willingness to engage in constructive dialogue," Ban said. The U.N. chief had just returned from the Organization of the Islamic Conference summit in Dakar.

Christofias and Talat agreed last week to hold talks on March 21 on reviving U.N.-backed reunification efforts.

The secretary-general said he wants Pascoe, the undersecretary-general for political affairs, "to engage in dialogue with all stakeholders" in Cyprus. "We hope that well be able to see improvement and make some breakthrough in these long pending issues in Europe," he said. Ban gave no dates for Pascoe's trip.