Turkey considers Cyprus proposals

Jonny Dymond
BBC News, Istanbul

Turkish Cypriots: Torn between EU dreams and fear of union with south

Turkey's National Security Council is to discuss proposals for the unification of the island of Cyprus.

The island split into a Greek south and a Turkish-sponsored north after a Turkish invasion in 1974.

Resolving the island's division has become an important part of Turkey's drive towards EU membership.

The council will discuss a proposal by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to create a Swiss-style federation of Greek and Turkish Cypriot states.

'Time running out'

The pace is quickening and everyone in Turkey knows it.

On the first of May southern, or Greek, Cyprus will join the EU.

Not only will the European Union then have a disputed border with the Turkish-backed north, but the south will have veto power over Turkey's EU bid.

Northern Cyprus now has a government which is in favour of negotiations.

Turkey has a government which is keen to see the Cyprus problem shelved as an obstacle and there is a plan on the table, the Annan Plan, which looks to some like the best the north might hope for.

But nothing is simple when it comes to Cyprus.

The north not convinced

The north has powerful friends in Turkey, particularly amongst the military.

Army commanders have let their unhappiness with the Annan plan be known.

The leader of the north's administration, Rauf Denktash, still opposes negotiations and he has been careful to cultivate influential people in Turkey.

So much rests on whether the national security council can come up with a plan that meets the approval of the military and is sufficiently close to the Annan plan as to prove a basis for meaningful and swift negotiations.