LIMASSOL, Cyprus  – Cyprus’ government says breakaway Turkish Cypriots and the Turkish government have scuttled chances of restarting talks to reunify the ethnically-split country.

Government spokesman Christos Stylianides on Dec. 14 blamed Turkish Cypriots for “extreme and intransigent” positions. He said President Nicos Anastasiades is unwilling to now enter into talks “for the sake of talks.”

Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu accused Greek Cypriots of intransigence after talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu earlier in the day.

Cyprus was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup by supporters of union with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence.

Greek Cypriots insist that single sovereignty for a future federated Cyprus must be encoded in a joint declaration before formal talks begin. Turkish Cypriots say there should be no preconditions to talks.