Turkish-Cypriot leader Mr Rauf Denktash said today that Greek Cypriots had rejected all of his requests for changes to a UN plan to reunite the island.
The island's ethnic Greeks and Turks are racing to reach a deal on a plan to reunite the island, drawn up by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, before the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot side enters the European Union on May 1st - with or without a settlement.
"The Greek Cypriots have rejected in full whatever we requested to bring the Annan plan to an acceptable shape," Mr Denktash said after talks with Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos. "They themselves have left practically nothing in the plan unchanged."
Mr Denktash said the Greek side dismissed his proposals on languages and other changes Turkish Cypriots seek. The 80-year-old veteran leader said last week Greek Cypriots had rejected his other proposals.
He has expressed strong reservations repeatedly about the UN blueprint and doubts a deal can be reached by May 1st.
His breakaway statelet is recognised only by Turkey, which keeps more than 30,000 troops in the Turkish-held north since invading in 1974 after a Greek Cypriot coup.
Turkey could see its own EU aspirations crumble if a deal to reunite Cyprus is not secured before May. European diplomats have said the lack of a settlement may be an obstacle to Ankara winning a date to begin accession talks.