Greeks and Turks in divided Cyprus will step up reunification talks in January to try to clinch a peace deal next year and end a conflict harming Turkey's ambition to join the European Union.
Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat will hold two three-day sessions of talks next month at a UN compound in Nicosia, the island's divided capital, the United Nations said.
Until now, the leaders have been meeting once a week.
"The leaders reconfirmed their earlier decision to intensify their efforts," said Yasser Sabra, a UN diplomat coordinating talks between the the two leaders who met today.
Reading from a joint statement issued by the two leaders, Mr Sabra said, "On the occasion of their last meeting of the year, the two leaders ... express their strong hope that 2010 will be the year of solution of the Cyprus problem."
Cyprus was split in a Turkish invasion in 1974 triggered by a brief Greek-inspired coup.
Turkey's negotiations with the EU have been partially frozen because of the conflict, and its refusal to open its ports to Greek Cypriots. Greek Cypriots represent Cyprus in the bloc.
Ankara has no diplomatic relations with the Greek Cypriot government, but recognises a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in northern Cyprus.
The two Cypriot sides re-launched peace talks in September 2008 and focus on how to make a power-sharing federation work.
"I am determined to move forward, if the Turkish Cypriot side shows the corresponding good will and basic principles for a solution to the Cyprus problem are not compromised," Mr Christofias told reporters.
Any settlement the sides agree on must be put to separate simultaneous referendums in both communities.
Reuters