Greek PM in divided Cyprus on first official visit

Greece's new prime minister is in Cyprus on his first official visit abroad to hold talks with the Cypriot government on efforts to reunify the divided island.

George Papandreou will meet Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias Monday, at the start of his two-day visit.

Cyprus government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou called Papandreou's trip "extremely important" in charting joint action to pressure Turkey to help the slow-moving talks.

The year-long talks between Christofias, a Greek Cypriot, and breakaway Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat have so far produced little real progress.

Cyprus was ethnically split in 1974 when Turkey invaded in response to a coup by supporters of union with Greece.