BRUSSELS - The European Union welcomed Monday Mehmet Ali Talat's victory in Turkish Cypriot elections, saying it boosted hopes for reunifying the island which joined the EU last year despite a 31-year division.
The European Commission also said the poll result in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), recognised only by Ankara, should allow the "rapid" release of EU aid and preferential trade terms for the northern part of Cyprus.
Talat's success "confirms the strong desire of the Turkish Cypriot community for reunification and full integration into the EU," said the EU's executive arm in a statement.
"The commission expects that this result will create favourable conditions for a resumption of talks under the aegis of the UN in view of a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus issue," it added.
Talat, who secured more than 55 percent of the vote in northern Cyprus, is an advocate of ending the Mediterranean island's division through a settlement with the Greek Cypriots in the south.
A UN plan to reunite Cyprus before it joined the 25-nation EU last May 1 was rejected by the Greek Cypriots despite its acceptance by the Turkish Cypriots in a separate vote.
Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, whose nation holds the rotating presidency of the EU, said he hopes Turkey will now sign a protocol to extend an EU customs accord to the 10 states that joined the bloc last year, including the internationally-recognised Greek Cypriot government.
"We will do everything during our presidency to ensure this happens," he said. "Our Turkish friends are now in a position where nothing stops them from signing this additional protocol."
Last month Ankara initialed the customs protocol but it has yet to formally sign the accord, a prerequisite for it to begin EU entry talks set for October 3.
The election result was also welcomed by Turkey itself. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said Ankara wanted a "just compromise" to re-united the divided island.
"It is our priority to ensure that the would-be settlement protects the Turkish Cypriot people's rights and interests and permanently secures peace and stability on the island," the Turkish minister said.
Talat immediately called for renewed peace talks with the Greek Cypriots after his election was confirmed Sunday, and urged the international community to lift economic sanctions on his breakaway state.
Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulous, who recently caused suprise by calling for the UN plan to be revived, also immediately hailed the TRNC election result, saying it constituted a "positive signal which could create a new atmosphere" between the two estranged communities.
The EU commission meanwhile said it remains "ready to actively support all efforts to this aim and to play a more active role in this respect.
"The commission also hopes that a compromise will allow the rapid adoption of its proposals on both the financial assistance (of 259 million euros) and on special conditions for trade," it said.
The EU executive also said it hoped that two additional crossing points on the green line separating the island will be opened soon.
Cyprus has been divided along ethnic lines since 1974, when Turkey sent its army to invade the northern third of the island in response to a military coup by Greek Cypriot nationalists aimed at "enosis", or union with Greece.
The election result will come as a relief in EU capitals. In initial reactions Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik said she hoped that "the signal sent in (the TRNC) will now be shared by all Cypriot leaders."

04/18/2005 15:49 GMT