U.N.'s Ban arrives in Cyprus to push elusive deal

LARNACA, Cyprus (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived on Cyprus Sunday to inject momentum into peace talks between the island's estranged Greeks and Turks.

Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have been locked in peace talks for the past 16 months.

"Reaching a mutually acceptable conclusion will require courage, flexibility and vision as well as a spirit of compromise," Ban told reporters.

Cyprus was divided in a Turkish invasion in 1974 triggered by a short-lived Greek-inspired coup. Decades-old attempts to resolve the conflict have failed.

"I am under no illusion that the Cyprus problem is easy to solve or about the difficulties that you face. At the same time, I am confident that a solution is possible and within reach," Ban said.

Alexander Downer, a former Australian foreign minister assigned U.N. special envoy for Cyprus, said Friday progress had been made on some aspects of discussions between the sides on how to co-govern the island in a future peace deal.

Any agreement between Christofias and Talat has to pass a referendum on both sides of the island.

Turkey's bid to join the European Union hinges partly on a Cyprus deal. Greek Cypriots represent the island in the bloc and will not agree to Ankara joining until the island's division is resolved.

Diplomats are concerned chances of a deal could recede if Talat, viewed as a moderate, loses a leadership election in northern Cyprus -- a breakaway state recognized only by Ankara -- in April. A hard-liner is leading most opinion polls.

(Writing by Michele Kambas, editing by Janet Lawrence)