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Talks on the reunification of Cyprus have begun between Demetris Christofias, the Greek Cypriot president, and Mehmet Ali Talat, the Turkish Cypriot leader.
Both men are seen as pro-settlement moderates and after three decades of failed diplomacy there is considerable optimism that a deal may be reached.
Alexander Downer, the UN secretary-general's special envoy to Cyprus, said: "Today is an historic day for Cyprus."
Downer said "significant progress" had been made to build confidence and create a solid foundation for the negotiations, which mark the first intensive push for peace on the island since a failed UN plan in 2004.
"There have been difficult moments over the past months and there will likely be further difficulties and challenges ahead.
"At the same time, the Cyprus problem is not insurmountable and the negotiations which begin today can and must have a successful outcome," he said.
'Common will'
Wednesday's meeting, the fifth this year between the two leaders, will pave the way for substantive negotiations to begin on September 11, initially focusing on power-sharing.
Christofias and Talat are then expected to meet at least once a week.
The leaders have also agreed to set up a hotline so they can remain in constant telephone contact throughout the negotiations.
"We are confident that we will succeed in concluding an agreement and hopefully as soon as possible... and hopefully... this year," the Turkish Cypriot leader said.
"There is a common will and a common desire and a common effort to achieve this target," added Christofias.
The negotiation process has an open-ended timeline but the UN has warned that the talks cannot go on indefinitely without tangible progress.
Peace rally
The build-up to the talks had been clouded by the refusal of Turkish Cypriot authorities to allow Greek Cypriot pilgrims to travel via a town in the remote northwest of the island to attend a church service.
However, hundreds of Turkish and Greek Cypriot peace activists rallied on Monday night in the capital's buffer zone chanting for a reunified Cyprus.
Preparatory talks at committee level since March have been accompanied by confidence-building measures, notably the opening of a symbolic crossing in Ledra Street, which links the south and north of the island in the heart of old Nicosia.
It is the first intensive push for peace since a UN reunification plan was approved by Turkish Cypriots but overwhelmingly rejected by Greek Cypriots, just a week before the island joined the European Union in 2004.
PHOTO CAPTION
Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias gestures to the media as UN special envoy for Cyprus Alexander Downer looks on before meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat at a U.N. compound, in the divided capital of Nicosia, Cyprus, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008.
Al-Jazeera
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