Right-wing hardliners won parliamentary elections on Sunday, taking 44 percent of the votes. This could hinder peace talks with Greek Cypriots, which are decisive to Turkey's EU membership ambitions.
Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat will conduct direct negotiations to find a mutually acceptable solution for the divided island, a UN spokesman said.
Rival Cypriot leaders agreed on Friday to meet again in three months in an effort to reunite the divided island. In a first symbolic gesture, they agreed to reopen the blocked Ledra street in Nicosia.(Report: J Jackson)