The Cyprus parliament voted unanimously yester-day to approve the accession of the Mediterranean island to the European Union.

　　Other countries approved accession in national plebiscites, but there is no provision in Cyprus' con-stitution for a referendum.

　　War-divided Cyprus, along with the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, is to join the now 15-member EU in May 2004.

　　The EU accepted the whole of Cyprus as a member in April, but with the provision that EU laws and benefits from membership - which apply to the Greek Cypriot south - will not be extended to Turkish Cypriot north until after reunification.

　　"The people believe that the accession can become a catalyst for the reunification of the island and a guarantee for peace," Speaker Dimitris Christofias told the 56-member house during the vote session attended by foreign diplomats.

　　Turkish Cypriots staged unprecedented massive demonstrations earlier this year in support of the accession of the whole island to the EU and demanding the resignation of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash. Denktash had rejected a UN reunification plan and insists on recognition of his breakaway state as a first step to reunification in the form a two-state confederation.

　　The east Mediterranean island has been split since Turkey invaded in 1974 in the wake of an abortive coup by supporters of union with Greece.