"Turkish Cypriots hope EU date can give new impetus towards solution
By Simon Bahceli
NEWS of Turkey�s receiving a date for the start of accession negotiations with the EU has been welcomed by Turkish Cypriots who believe it will give impetus to efforts to find a solution to the island�s decades-old problem.
Turkey will begin accession negotiations with the bloc in October 2005, but only on condition it signs a vital protocol with the 10 new members of the union, including Cyprus. Signing the protocol will constitute tacit recognition of the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus and could, in theory at least, leave the Turkish Cypriot breakaway statelet without a backer.
�There needs to be a solution by October,� Turkish Cypriot �prime minister� Mehmet Ali Talat told BRT television yesterday. He added, however, it would only be possible if there was a change of heart by the Greek Cypriot leadership. "
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