Cypriot President says gas find may help resolve island's division

Cyprus' President Nicos Anastasiades arrives at a European Union leaders summit at the EU council headquarters in Brussels December 20, 2013. REUTERS/Yves Herman

NICOSIA (Reuters) - President Nicos Anastasiades said discovery of natural gas around Cyprus could galvanise international efforts to resolve a long-standing division of the island and smooth development of an alternative energy supply source to Russia.

But he said it was too early to speak of tangible progress in recently relaunched peace talks on the ethnically split island. Deep differences persisted between rival Greek and Turkish Cypriots that have defied the efforts of diplomats and politicians over four decades.