US official says Washington hopes for Cyprus deal by the end of 2009

Hurriyet Daily News with wires

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Washington will not become directly involved in the slow-moving, open-ended peace talks unless Cypriots ask for help, but "we are trying to plan for success," Bryza was quoted by AP as saying.

He was speaking to reporters after meeting Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias' top aide George Iacovou in Nicosia, where he is also scheduled to meet Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

Cyprus has been divided since 1964 when Turkish Cypriots were forced to withdraw into enclaves.

Re-launched in September 2008 after a four-year hiatus, Talat and Christofias have been involved in U.N.-sponsored unification talks aimed at reaching an agreement to end the island's decades-long division. But there has been little real progress.

The talks mark the first major push for peace since the failure of a U.N. reunification plan in 2004, which was approved by Turkish Cypriots but overwhelmingly rejected by Greek Cypriots.