Cyprus has reassured Britain it will not veto any European Union decision to open membership talks with Turkey, Britain's Minister for Europe said yesterday.

European Union leaders are due to decide at a summit in December on whether to open the negotiations.

"I am glad my talks confirmed the long-standing views expressed by the leaders of the Republic of Cyprus that no one should be seeking to veto Turkey's application in December," British Minister for Europe Denis MacShane said.

Cyprus government officials were not immediately available for comment.

The EU's executive Commission has recommended that talks begin but has said they should be suspended if Ankara backtracks on human rights or political reforms.

It made no mention of Cyprus - divided since 1974 between the Greek Cypriot south and a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in the north recognised only by Ankara - in the list of conditions it proposed for the start of membership talks.

But Cyprus, represented in the EU only by its Greek Cypriot part, has been seeking to persuade other EU countries to attach additional conditions to the start of talks which would include a Turkish army pullout from the north.

It also wants Ankara to open diplomatic relations with Nicosia. Foreign Minister George Iakovou said last week "immediate remedial action" was needed from Ankara on Cyprus before membership negotiations could start.

But Mr MacShane, on an official visit to Cyprus, dismissed the idea of attaching new conditions.

"I expressed Britain's clear view that Turkey should be told in December that all 25 governments of the European Union accept the European Commission's report on Turkey's application for membership and negotiations should begin without delay on Turkey's EU accession.

"There can be no new conditions, or preconditions," he told reporters. Britain is one of the strongest supporters in the EU for Turkey's membership bid.

Mr MacShane said that relations between Cyprus and Turkey should be normalised.

EU membership talks with Turkey are expected to last at least 10 years.

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