A deal to end the partition of Cyprus, one of Europe's most enduring conflicts, is closer than ever and could be clinched by the end of this year, a senior U.N. envoy said on Tuesday. Rival Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders are slated to meet at a Swiss resort for talks from Nov. 7-11 to pave the way for greater convergence between two sides split since a brief Greek coup and ensuing Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. "We are way ahead of what has ever happened before," said Espen Barth Eide, Special Adviser to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.