Cyprus reunification talks restart, tough challenges ahead

An elderly man sit on a bench in front of the barrels and sandbags blocking a road crossing from the south, Greek Cypriot, to the north, Turkish Cypriot breakaway controlled areas in the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Monday, April 10, 2017. Talks aimed at reunifying ethnically divided Cyprus resume after a two-month halt. But negotiations face difficult challenges with the island's Greek Cypriot president accusing the breakaway Turkish Cypriot leader of backpedaling on key issues at Turkey's prompting after months of solid progress. Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup mounted by supporters of union with Greece. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) (The Associated Press)

A man stands by a Greek Cypriot military abandoned guard post that blocks a road crossing from the south, Greek Cypriot, to the north, Turkish Cypriot breakaway controlled areas in the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Monday, April 10, 2017. Talks aimed at reunifying ethnically divided Cyprus resume after a two-month halt. But negotiations face difficult challenges with the island's Greek Cypriot president accusing the breakaway Turkish Cypriot leader of backpedaling on key issues at Turkey's prompting after months of solid progress. Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup mounted by supporters of union with Greece. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) (The Associated Press)

Flowers are seen on the barrels with barbed wires that blocks a road crossing from the south, Greek Cypriot, to the north, Turkish Cypriot breakaway controlled areas in the divided capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Monday, April 10, 2017. Talks aimed at reunifying ethnically divided Cyprus resume after a two-month halt. But negotiations face difficult challenges with the island's Greek Cypriot president accusing the breakaway Turkish Cypriot leader of backpedaling on key issues at Turkey's prompting after months of solid progress. Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup mounted by supporters of union with Greece. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) (The Associated Press)

After a two-month halt, talks aimed at reunifying ethnically divided Cyprus are resuming, with rival leaders hoping to claw back diminished trust and lost momentum.

But Tuesday's reboot of the United Nations-mediated negotiations faces difficult challenges with the island's Greek Cypriot president accusing the breakaway Turkish Cypriot leader of backpedaling on key issues at Turkey's prompting after many months of solid progress.

The minority Turkish Cypriots, meanwhile, say Greek Cypriots pay lip service to their core demand of equal partnership in the running of an envisioned federation — especially on holding the federal presidency interchangeably.

It's still unclear if talks can result in a deal both sides can rally behind.

Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup mounted by supporters of union with Greece.