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Brussels sees Turkish Cypriot result as desire for full EU integration
AFP: 2/20/2005

BRUSSELS, Feb 20 (AFP) - The European Commission late Sunday welcomed the victory claimed by Turkish Cypriot prime minister Mehmet Ali Talat in the breakaway state in northern Cyprus, saying the outcome showed a "clear desire" by the region's residents for full integration into the EU.

"The Commission welcomes the results of the 'parliamentary' elections in the northern part of Cyprus," the EU's executive branch said in a statement.

"The results indicate a clear desire of the Turkish Cypriot community to continue preparations for their full integration into the EU," it said.

"The results also show that the Turkish Cypriots are committed to the reunification of Cyprus."

Talat claimed victory in Sunday's general elections in northern Cyprus but acknowledged he may not have enough parliamentary seats to come to power on his own.

With nearly 90 percent of the 575 ballot boxes counted, Talat's Republican Turkish Party (CTP), which backed an abortive UN reunification plan for the Mediterranean island last year, had 44.2 percent of the votes cast, according electoral commission figures.

Turkey is the only state to recognise the breakaway state, which Turkish Cypriot leaders declared in 1983.

International efforts to end the 30-year division of Cyprus have largely been on hold since April when Greek Cypriots overwhelmingly voted down the last-ditch UN settlement plan which the Turkish Cypriots rallied behind.

That outcome meant that only the internationally recognized Greek south of the island joined the European Union on May 1, while the breakaway Turkish Cypriots were left out in the cold.

In December, Turkey also obtained the green light to start accession talks with pan-European bloc, but on a set of tough conditions including a recognition of Greek Cyprus.