Ecevit to tackle Greek dispute

Ankara - The Turkish Prime Minister, Mr Bulent Ecevit, said yesterday Turkey would do its utmost to solve its territorial disputes…

Ankara - The Turkish Prime Minister, Mr Bulent Ecevit, said yesterday Turkey would do its utmost to solve its territorial disputes with Greece before a 2004 deadline set by the EU.

Mr Ecevit told a meeting of his party's parliamentary deputies that Turkey would strive to meet all the EU's criteria for full membership, including ending the dispute with neighbouring Greece. But he said he was not prepared to give ground on Turkey's campaign to win international recognition for a Turkish Cypriot administration on Cyprus.