Cyprus vows not to turn blind eye to Turkey's progress on EU membership

Cyprus would not turn a blind eye to Turkey's progress on European Union (EU) membership when Ankara failed to open its air and sea ports to Cypriot traffic, Cypriot Foreign Minister George Lillikas said on Thursday.

"Cyprus cannot behave as if nothing has happened in EU-Turkish relations, when Turkey is refusing to implement its obligations towards the EU," Lillikas told reporters.

Lillikas made the remarks at the Larnaca Airport before departing for Athens, where he will be participating in the informal meeting of foreign ministers from Mediterranean countries.

Asked if he would be discussing Turkey's EU accession course in view of the European Commission's progress report, Lillikas said this issue would come up, because "it is the main issue during this period in the EU, which concerns all member states".

Earlier, a Cypriot government spokesman said that the country would adopt a more belligerent stance against Ankara until the EU Commission issues a progress report on Turkey's accession talks on Nov. 8.

Cyprus and Greece have also warned their EU partners not to bring a new chapter -- the Chapter on Industry in Turkey's progress report to Thursday's EU meeting, saying that they would block it due to a lack of movement on the ports issue.

The Republic of Cyprus has been urging Turkey to open its ports and airports to its traffic under a customs union protocol Ankara signed with the EU last year.

But Turkey insists that it will not do so unless the EU restriction on the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north is lifted.

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 a year ago. 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.

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.

Source: Xinhua