Turkish, Greek Cypriot Leaders Accept UN Reunification Plan

Leaders of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities have accepted a U.N. blueprint for reunifying Cyprus by May. The deal was reached after three days of hard bargaining at U.N. headquarters. The deal reached Friday clears the way for further talks aimed at ending 30 years of Cyprus' division. The goal is to put a final settlement to referenda on both sides of the island, in time for a united Cyprus to join the European Union May 1. Agreement came on the fourth day of three-party talks involving Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. After three days of deadlock, Mr. Annan presented the rival leaders with a take-it-or-leave-it proposal Friday, and both sides immediately accepted. A beaming Mr. Annan announced the result, calling it a very good day for Cyprus. Mr. Annan said the talks will continue February 19 in Cyprus, with his representative, Alvaro de Soto, acting as mediator. If no agreement is reached there, the negotiators would be brought back to New York for a final session that would include the motherlands, Greece and Turkey. If there is still no result, Mr. Annan reserves the right to fill in the blanks on a final document that would be put to a public vote in April.