Athens/Nicosia - Efforts to reunify the divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus are expected to continue by leaders from both communities well into 2009, a UN envoy said Thursday.

Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders launched a new round of peace talks in September and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat had said he hoped a breakthrough could be found by the end of the year.

Peace talks were deadlocked after former president Tassos Papadopoulos led the Greek-Cypriot rejection of a UN reunification plan in a 2004 referendum. Turkish Cypriots had overwhelmingly voted in favour.

Speaking to journalists following the latest meeting between Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias, United Nations Envoy Alexander Downer said finding a solution will take time.

"I think obviously the process will go into 2009 and as long as the momentum is sustained they can achieve a good solution in the end."

The island has been split since 1974 after Turkey invaded the northern third of the island in response to a short-lived coup initiated by Greece.

"They need to maintain momentum and not lose momentum ... I think to set themselves official deadlines would actually made the process more difficult rather than easier," Downer said.

Peace negotiations so far have focused governance and power sharing.

The two sides have agreed in principle to reunite the island as a federal entity composed of two constituent states, which would guarantee the equality of both communities.

The real problem dividing the two sides is how the Greek Cypriot majority would share power with the minority Turkish Cypriots.

The Turkish Cypriots want a loose federation while the Greek Cypriots want a stronger central government and more limited regional powers which will prevent the island falling back into partition.

The ongoing conflict in Cyprus also threatens Turkey's aspirations of joining the European Union. Ankara started EU entry talks in 2005 and the Cyprus problem has proved one of the main stumbling blocks in negotiations.

Ankara maintain more than 45,000 troops in the northern part of Cyprus. (dpa)