THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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NICOSIA, Cyprus - European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso says there is now a "historic chance" to reunify ethnically-divided Cyprus.

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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Philippos Christou

Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias welcomes the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, right, before their meeting at the presidential palace in divided Nicosia, Cyprus, Thursday.

Barroso says the EU fully backs the slow-moving peace talks between the island's Greek Cypriot president, Dimitris Christofias, and the leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots, Mehmet Ali Talat.

But he warns that the European Union "cannot make the deal" and that it is up to Cypriots themselves to find a solution.

Cyprus was split in 1974, when Turkey invaded in response to a short-lived coup by supporters of union with Greece.

Christofias and Talat restarted stalled peace talks in September, but have made little tangible progress.

Barroso made the remarks on Thursday after talks with Christofias.