Deal on Cyprus reunification closer than ever - U.N. envoy

NICOSIA (Reuters) - A deal to end the partition of Cyprus, one of Europe's most enduring conflicts, is closer than ever and could be clinched by the end of this year, a senior U.N. envoy said on Tuesday.

Rival Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders are slated to meet at a Swiss resort for talks from Nov. 7-11 to pave the way for greater convergence between two sides split since a brief Greek coup and ensuing Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974.