EU: The European Commission said that failure to settle the Cyprus issue could pose a "serious obstacle" to Turkey's bid to open EU membership talks, rebuffing pressure from Ankara to avoid such linkage.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mr Abdullah Gul vowed to step up efforts to end the decades-old division of the island by next May, when Cyprus joins the EU, but added that it should not be used to delay the opening of negotiations with his country.
In its annual progress report, the Commission praised the year-old Turkish government for political and economic reforms which, if fully implemented, could help it win a start to accession negotiations when EU leaders decide in December 2004.
But it also said: "The absence of a settlement (on Cyprus) could become a serious obstacle to Turkey's EU aspirations." Mr Gul had called on Enlargement Commissioner Mr Guenter Verheugen on Tuesday evening to urge the EU executive not to link its candidacy and the Cyprus problem in the report.
But Mr Verheugen told the European Parliament the Commission believed its strong political message would help the Turkish government face down hardline opponents of a Cyprus settlement.
EU leaders decided in 1999 that a peace deal should not be a precondition for Turkish accession talks.
However Mr Verheugen told parliament: "This is simply noting a fact. We simply note that if there is not a solution to the Cyprus question, then this would be a considerable obstacle to Turkey's aspirations to Europe. That's all we're saying."