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UN envoy upbeat suspended Cyprus reunification talks could resume soon as gas row ebbs

Associated Press
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United Nations envoy for Cyprus, Norway’s Espen Barth Eide smiles during a meeting with Cyprus' president Nicos Anastasiades at the presidential palace in divided capital Nicosia, Tuesday, March 17, 2015. Eide said the reasons that led to a halt in talks may be over and that gas developments could create “a climate where talks can continue.” (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) (The Associated Press)

United Nations envoy for Cyprus, Norway’s Espen Barth Eide arrives at the presidential palace following a meeting with Cyprus' president Nicos Anastasiades in divided capital Nicosia, Tuesday, March 17, 2015. Eide said the reasons that led to a halt in talks may be over and that gas developments could create “a climate where talks can continue.” (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) (The Associated Press)

United Nations envoy for Cyprus, Norway’s Espen Barth Eide leaves the presidential palace after a meeting with Cyprus' president Nicos Anastasiades in divided capital Nicosia, Tuesday, March 17, 2015. Eide said the reasons that led to a halt in talks may be over and that gas developments could create “a climate where talks can continue.” (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) (The Associated Press)

A U.N. envoy says he sees an opportunity to resume suspended talks to reunify ethnically divided Cyprus amid signs that a clash over an offshore natural gas search may be ebbing.

Espen Barth Eide said after talks with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades Tuesday that the reasons that led to a halt in talks may be over and gas developments could create "a climate where talks can continue."

Anastasiades suspended talks in October last year after Turkey launched a search for the fossil fuel in waters where the Cypriot government licensed other companies to drill.

Turkey says a unilateral gas search by the internationally recognized Greek Cypriots ignores the rights of breakaway Turkish Cypriots.

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