Turkey's possible acceptance as a candidate for European Union (EU) membership may make a settlement to the Cyprus issue more difficult, Cypriot Parliament Speaker Spyros Kyprianou said on November 9.

After a meeting with President Glafcos Clerides, Kyprianou said the Turkish side has not shown any sign it is ready to make a move on Cyprus issue.

He warned against the prospect of disengaging Turkey's course to Europe from progress towards a Cyprus settlement.

Cyprus has been divided into the Turkish Cypriots-controlled north and the Greek Cypriots-dominated south since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the northern third of the island in the wake of a failed coup seeking union with Athens.

The Turkish Cypriots walked out of the peace talks with the Greek Cypriots in 1997 to protest against a EU decision to remove Turkey from the candidates for immediate EU membership.

Two years ago in Luxembourg, the EU said it can not open accession talks with Turkey unless Ankara improves its human rights record, supports a settlement in Cyprus and improves relations with neighboring Greece.

The EU position is expected to be re-examined at December's EU summit in Helsinki, Finland.

Kyprianou said Turkey's EU status is not a minor issue and consultations on the matter are continuing.