Turkish Cypriot leader expects reunification deal by latest early 2010

Hurriyet Daily News with wires

"If we miss this opportunity, we may not find one again," Talat told Reuters in an interview.

Re-launched in September 2008 after a four-year hiatus, Talat and his Greek Cypriot counterpart, Demetris Christofias, have been involved in UN-sponsored unification talks aimed at reaching an agreement to end the island's decades-long division. But little progress has been made so far.

The talks mark the first major push for peace since the failure of a U.N. reunification plan in 2004, which was approved by Turkish Cypriots but overwhelmingly rejected by Greek Cypriots.

"My target is for a solution by the end of the year, and a referendum at the beginning of 2010," said Talat. "The chance (of a solution by then) is quite high."

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon urged the leaders of the divided Mediterranean island to accelerate peace talks in a report released last week.