Greek, Turkish Cypriot leaders to meet

NICOSIA, Cyprus, March 12 (UPI) -- After decades of disputes over sovereignty, the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders have agreed to hold direct talks under U.N. auspices.

Officials say the talks are scheduled for March 21 in the U.N. protected area in Nicosia, Cyprus, after an agreement from top aides to both Greek Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet Ali Talat, the United Nations reported.

The face-to-face meeting was agreed to during a meeting Wednesday hosted by Michael Moller, the U.N. special representative for Cyprus with Christofias aide, George Iacovou, and Talat aid, Ozdil Nami. The U.N. mission to Cyprus, established in 1964, has been working bring the Greek and Turkey sides together after violence erupted on island and decades of disputes.

At the top of the announced meeting's agenda will likely be the opening of Nicosia's Ledra Street crossing after years of closure.

Iacovou and Nami "reached a great degree of convergence on the issues discussed, including on the possible future opening of the Ledra Street crossing," the release said.