Verkiezingen in Cyprus: voor- en tegenstanders EU krijgen evenveel zetels (en)

An important Cyprus election which could decide the fate of the divided island has ended in a draw.

Pro-European opposition parties have narrowly won a vote in the unrecognised Turkish republic of Northern Cyprus, but the voting system means that the two sides will have the same number of seats in Parliament.

The governing party, which opposes reunification of the island, had about 2% less of the votes, reports the BBC.

At stake is whether Turkish Cypriots will join their Greek Cypriot compatriots in the south when they enter the EU on 1 May 2004.

Turkey is under heavy pressure from Brussels to push the Turkish Cypriots toward a deal.

A statement by the European Commission says the elections "in the northern part of Cyprus reflect the growing desire of the Turkish Cypriots to find a solution on the basis of the Annan plan and to allow for the accession of a reunited island to the EU on 1 May 2004".

"The Commission is convinced that securing a comprehensive settlement on the basis of the Annan plan by 1 May 2004 would be in the best interest of all Cypriots and of the region".

It also said it would provide additional funds to assist the northern part of the island if a settlement was reached.

Talks on the UN plan, which proposes a loose federal state with broad autonomy for the two communities, collapsed in March.