News (or no news) from Cyprus

The talks between the two communities in Cyprus to reunify the island continue, but thus far there have been no results, as indicated in this report in the EU Observer: "Greece: Cyprus talks could spill over after 1 May." One wonders whether this deadline is a realistic one. Moreover, there seems to be some disagreement between Romano Prodi, President of the EU Commission, and Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament, as to whether a solution to the Cyprus issue is a precondition for Turkish membership. They need to get their act together, or a settlement might not be forthcoming at all.