UN Can't Break Impasse On Cyprus Talks

(Reuters) - UN diplomats struggled on Nov. 6 to revive stalled peace talks on Cyprus, where an ethnic division dating back four decades is dogging Turkey's bid to join the European Union. United Nations envoys have been shuttling between the two sides of the split Mediterranean island trying to agree on the wording of a joint statement by Greek and Turkish Cypriots to pave the way for resuming talks after an 18-month hiatus. But so far there is little sign of a breakthrough. 'We are all putting a huge effort into this joint declaration, it's a very important component of the process and the Secretary-General wants the two leaders to agree on a joint declaration, so work is still proceeding,' said Alexander Downer, Ban Ki-moon's special representative for the island.

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