Cyprus criticized current EU president Britain on Thursday for its handling of Turkey's refusal to recognize the Republic of Cyprus.

"The presidency needs to show impartiality and bear in mind the collective interests of the EU and not the interests it has by securing the opening of accession talks between Turkey and the EU," Cypriot government spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides told reporters.

Cyprus is pressing the EU to make a satisfactory counter- declaration to Turkey's July declaration that it does not recognize the southern Greek Cypriot government, which entered the EU representing the whole island on May 1, 2004.

However, the EU members have so far failed to reach an agreement on the wording of the counter-statement.

The spokesman said the Cypriot government will continue efforts for a clear and unconditional counter-statement, noting that it is EU's collective responsibility to defend the principles and foundations on which it is based on.

Cyprus is also threatening to block Turkey's EU entry talks slated for Oct.3, for the start of accession talks need all members states to agree on a negotiating mandate.

"It (Britain) forgets that unanimity is required to adopt the statement and subsequently unanimity for Turkey's negotiating framework", Chrysostomides said.

Turkey has signed a key protocol extending its customs union with the EU to the ten new EU members, including the Republic of Cyprus. However, Ankara claims its signature of the protocol doesn't mean recognizing the Cypriot government.

Cyprus has been divided into the south Greek Cyprus and north Turkish Cyprus since 1974, when Turkey sent troops to take control of one third of the island following a failed Greek Cypriot coup seeking union with Greece.

Repeated efforts by the international community to reunite the island have so far failed, and the south Cyprus became a EU member, leaving the north Turkish Cyprus, which is only recognized by Ankara, outside.

Source: Xinhua