The European Union today pledged to accommodate any peace settlement agreed on Cyprus before it joins the bloc in May and gave strong backing to UN diplomatic efforts to reunite the divided island.
In a draft statement to be issued at a summit, EU leaders said: "The European Council reaffirms its strong preference for the accession of a united Cyprus to the EU and reiterates its readiness to accommodate the terms of such a settlement in line with the principles on which the EU is founded."
Diplomats said Greece failed to win tougher wording that would have backed the Greek Cypriots demand that EU freedom of movement should be explicitly extended to all areas of Cyprus.
Turkish Cypriots, fearing being swamped, want to restrict the resettlement of Greek Cypriots in northern Cyprus.