Cyprus peace talks ‘last chance’ for deal, Turkish official says

Turkey’s foreign minister says ongoing talks aimed at reunifying ethnically divided Cyprus are the "last chance" to reach a peace accord.

Mevlut Cavusoglu said the United Nations, which is brokering negotiations, "also thinks this is the last chance" and that the world body wants the island’s leaders to take advantage of it.

Cavusoglu was speaking Thursday after talks with breakaway Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci.

Akinci has been engaged in talks with Nicos Anastasiades, the Greek Cypriot president of Cyprus’ internationally recognized government, since negotiations resumed in May.

Cavusoglu said his country fully backs the negotiations to produce a viable and sustainable deal.

Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup aiming to unite the island with Greece. [AP]