The European Commission said today talks on a Cyprus peace settlement had not failed and urged Cypriots to back UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's plan to reunite the divided island before it joins the European Union on May 1st.
Speaking after talks involving Greek, Turkish and Cypriot leaders ended without an agreed deal, Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen told the European Parliament: "Over the past two days in Switzerland we have come very close to achieving that objective. This procedure certainly has not failed."
In a statement that could have implications for Turkey's own bid to open EU accession talks next year, he said: "Turkey played a very constructive and co-operative role in the negotiations. I would like to say that expressly."
Mr Annan delivered his final plan to Greek, Turkish and Cypriot officials this morning stressing that "the time for decision and action has arrived".
Mr Annan said he had written a letter to the leaders of the Greek and Cypriot communities on the island and the governments of Greece and Turkey setting out his plans for national referendums on the plan on April 24 - four days later than originally planned.
"The hour is late but the cause is urgent ," Mr Annan told the parties, gathered within minutes of the midnight deadline yesterday for completing four-way talks at the Swiss mountain-top resort of Buergenstock.
"The time for negotiations and consultation is over. The Time for decision and action is over," he said.
The Turkish side was quick to give support to the plan, confirming that it would hold the referendum as planned.
The Greeks and Greek Cypriots had earlier expressed disappointment in the failure to guarantee Turkish troop withdrawal and 100 per cent return of Greek Cypriot refugees to their homes in the northern part of the Mediterranean island.