Cyprus urges Turkey to comply with EU obligations to avoid membership crisis

Cypriot Foreign Minister George Lillikas urged here Sunday that a crisis between Turkey and the European Union could be avoided if Ankara would comply with its EU obligations and open its ports to all EU members, including Cyprus.

Lillikas made the remarks upon his arrival from Athens, where he attended an informal meeting of foreign ministers from Mediterranean countries.

The success of Turkey's EU membership bid depended on the country itself as well as its cooperation with the European institutions, Lillikas told the press.

Regarding the possibility of Cyprus' veto upon Turkey's EU membership, Lillikas said that Cyprus would defend its national interests.

"By defending its interests, in this particular case, Cyprus is defending the EU credibility as well," he stressed.

In an interview published Saturday by Athens newspaper To Vima, Lillikas was quoted as saying that Nicosia would not shirk from using its power of veto even if all 24 of its fellow EU member states opposed its actions.

His comments came amid media speculation over efforts by Finland, the current holder of the six-month rotating EU presidency, to broker a compromise on the issue to avoid a veto scenario.

Lillikas said that Nicosia was in close contact with the EU presidency and was working on the Finnish proposal, which included the aspects of direct trade between the EU and Turkish Cypriots, as well as all other issues that had been agreed upon during the Luxembourg EU presidency.

The issues include the withdrawal of Turkish troops from the eastern Cypriot city of Famagusta and having over the area to the United Nations.

Ankara maintains that it would open its airports and harbors to Cypriot trade traffic if Nicosia agreed to lift trade restrictions on the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north.

Turkey has refused to open its ports and airports to the Cypriot traffic, despite a customs union protocol Ankara signed with the EU last year.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey militarily intervened and occupied the north of Cyprus following a coup by a group of Greek officers.

The Republic of Cyprus is internationally recognized while the breakaway north is only supported by Ankara.

The Republic of Cyprus, which entered the EU on behalf of the whole island in May 2004, is able to block Turkey's entry talks with its veto.

The EU formally launched talks with Turkey over the country's accession in October last year. The negotiations are expected to last at least a decade and Ankara is required to meet a number of criteria spelled out by the EU before entry.

Source: Xinhua