NICOSIA, Feb 19: Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash said on Thursday that rival Greek Cypriots, buoyed by imminent membership of the European Union, seemed unwilling to make concessions in last-ditch talks to re-unite the island.

"What we saw in today's talks is that the Greek Cypriot side is relaxed ... We feel that they, as an EU member, just want to take us in" with only minor adaptations to the reunification plan put forward by the UN, the veteran leader told reporters outside his office in the Turkish-held sector of Nicosia.

He was speaking after holding a first-round of talks, brokered by the United Nations, with Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos to find a settlement before the island joins the European Union on May 1.

Denktash would not comment on whether he was hopeful for a resolution after Thursday's talks, but vowed to stay at the negotiating table. "I, along with my friends, will try to resolve this issue to the end," he said.

The settlement of the Cyprus issue has gained urgency with EU warnings that it will allow in only the island's internationally recognized Greek Cypriot south and shun the breakaway Turkish north if Cyprus is not re-unified by May. -AFP