Nicosia - A high-ranking UN official is set to embark on a new attempt to overcome the division of Cyprus, local Cypriot press reports said Sunday.

The reports said that Lynn Pascoe, Assistant to the UN Secretary General, will hold three-day initial soundings to determine whether negotiations on a reunification of the island can go ahead in June, as planned.

He is expected to meet separately with the two top Cypriot leaders, newly-elected President Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat

The UN-initiative to overcome the division o comes a few days after a first meeting by the leaders of the Mediterranean island.

Christofias and Talat agreed on March 21 to set up expert groups in order to pave the way for restarting unification talk for the island that had been divided since 1974.

The two leaders agreed on regular meetings, and, as a confidence- building measure, announced their aim to open up the crossing point of Ledra Street in the capital Nicosia, that had been closed for several decades. Ledra Street, a symbol for the island's division, is to be reopened next week.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded the northern third of the island in response to a brief Greek-inspired coup. Two years ago, Greek Cypriots rejected a UN-mediated peace plan.

Hopes for a deal are increasing, as new Cypriot President Christofias has adopted a more conciliatory position. (dpa)