Turkey's Prime Minister has called on the UN Security Council to endorse a blueprint to ease the isolation of Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus.

Prime Minister Recep Erdogan expressed frustration on Thursday that the Security Council had yet to vote on a plan developed by UN chief Kofi Annan to open the north of Cyprus.

Arguing that his country had done more than the Greeks to overcome divisions in the Cyprus, Erdogan also pledged Ankara's help to stabilise Iraq, saying it was in the world's interest for its neighbour to become a democracy.

The Mediterranean island has been divided into a Greek Cypriot-controlled south and a Turkish-occupied north since Turkey invaded the island in 1974.

2004 vote

Turkish Cypriots voted for a reunification plan by Annan in April 2004, which was overwhelmingly rejected by Greek Cypriots.

Greek Cyprus has since joined the European Union with EU benefits applying only in the south, while a self-declared Turkish Cypriot state in the north is still recognized by only Turkey.

Turkey wants help easing the isolation as a reward for backing the unification plan, which needed approval from both sides to be implemented.

"We have said that we would always be one step ahead of the Greek Cypriots, and we have fulfilled that promise," Erdogan said. "We believe that a decision has to be reached, an endorsement has to happen, and we are looking for a positive outcome in this respect."

"Our expectation in Cyprus is to have a comprehensive, long-lasting and just peace and settlement," he said.

Earlier this week, UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast met with leaders in Cyprus, Greece and Turkey to discuss resuming talks but came away with no new announcements.

Prendergast is to brief the Security Council on 22 June.

PHOTO CAPTION

George W. Bush, right, meets with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, June 8, 2005, in Washington. (AP)