ANKARA (AFP) -- Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat said Thursday he was hopeful a UN-brokered peace talks due to begin in September would end the 34-year-old division of Cyprus.

""I am optimistic for the resolution of the Cyprus problem,"" Talat told a news conference here after talks with President Abdullah Gul of Turkey.
Talat expressed conference that direct talks with Cypriot President Demetris Christofias set to begin on September 3 would produce a deal by the end of the year.
""Our target is to reach a settlement in 2008,"" the Turkish Cypriot leader said, but added that he would never back down from any ""gains"" that his breakaway statelet has made over the years.
""Our aim is to set up a new partnership between two communities with political equality,"" Talat said.
Talat and Christofias reached a landmark agreement in March to enter into full-fledged peace negotiations after four years of deadlock following the rejection by Greek Cypriots of a UN peace plan.
The island's division is also a major stumbling block in Turkey's bid to join the European union.