The Turkish government said it could annex the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC, ie, the Turkish part of the island) if the Greek Cypriot government (ie, the Greek part of the island, governed from Nicosia) joins the European Union. Cyprus (or at least, Greek Cyprus) is scheduled to become a member of the EU in 2004. Turkey is also a candidate for EU entry. Though this kind of Greek-Turk political sparring is par for the course, the speculation has already started that strong Turk participation in the War on Terror could well speed up Turkeys integration into the EU. Turkish membership in the EU would then become a de facto solution to the Cyprus issue. Is this an immediate solution for Cyprus? No, but the politics are changing and a new accommodation over Cyprus could be two or three years down the road.