www.kypria.com/life/1553.php -
[Cached Version]
Last Visited: 12/6/2007
"Turkey seems very unwilling to ratify the EU customs protocol under which it would have to open up like this," says Nicholas Whyte, Europe programme director of the think-tank, International Crisis Group.
"The Greek Cypriots see this as very important, as they want Turkey to recognise them - it's not so important economically, but is very important symbolically."
At present, Turkey only recognises the Turkish Cypriot administration in the north, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.This remains unrecognised, however, by the international community.
"The Greek Cypriots will likely feel their position strengthened on the issue of recognition by the election," Whyte said, "and push Turkey much harder."
But for the Turkish government, recognition of the Greek Cypriots - even if partial - would be very unpopular with the electorate - and is a move the government of Recip Tayyip Erdogan has therefore been highly reluctant to take.
Whyte said: "The risk is that Turkey may, as a result of all this pushing, simply walk off and become more isolationist.