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Turkish PM reiterates firmness on Cyprus problem

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday insisted again that Turkey's ports and airports will not be opened to traffic from Greek Cyprus if the isolations of the Turkish Cypriots are not lifted.

"Unless isolations on 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' are lifted, we will maintain our determination that we have assumed so far in regard to opening of ports and airports," Erdogan was quoted by the semi-official Anatolia news agency as saying.

His remarks came after the European Commission issued the 2006 Turkey Progress Report and Strategy Document on Wednesday, warning Turkey of a slowdown in the reform process as well as its refusal to open ports and airports to Greek Cypriot traffic.

When asked whether there will be a development on Cyprus issue before the EU summit to be held in December, Erdogan said that the European Commission authorities will make a recommendatory decision on Cyprus issue before the summit.

Noting that northern Cyprus had taken the most important step on the European Council resolution on April 26, 2004 and report of the UN Secretary General on May 28, 2004, Erdogan said that Greek Cypriot administration acted against demands of the EU.

Promises made to northern Cyprus have not been fulfilled yet, said Erdogan, adding, "after these promises are fulfilled, we will do what is necessary."

EU officials had pledged to take steps to ease the isolation of the north of Cyprus after Greek Cypriot voters in 2004 rejected a UN-backed plan that would have united the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sides.

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 internationally-recognized Republic of Cyprus entered the EU in the name of the whole island.

The EU has said that Turkey, with which it began membership talks in October last year, must open its ports and airports to traffic from Cyprus this year under an agreement extending its customs union with the EU to the 10 new EU member states including Cyprus, otherwise it will end the access talks with Turkey.

Source: Xinhua