ANKARA, Turkey, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Turkey's odds of joining the European Union would increase if the Cyprus dispute was resolved, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said Thursday.
"The resolution of the problem as soon as possible will create a very favorable environment," he said after meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gul. "It would be a very important development in the process of coming closer to the EU."
The EU has not granted Turkey accession talks though it has been a candidate to join the bloc since 1999. The EU has called for greater political reform before talks to join can begin.
The Cyprus dispute erupted in 1974 following Turkey's invasion of the island after Greek-Cypriots staged a coup trying to unite it with Greece.
