Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos Thursday called on the European Commission to exert more pressure on Turkey during EU accession talks for refusing to open its ports and airports to Cypriot vessels and aircraft.

Under a customs union agreement with the EU, Turkey is obliged to open its ports and airports to Cyprus. But Turkey refuses to do so until the 25-nation bloc keeps its promise to ease international isolation of the Turkish Cypriot north.

As a result, the European Commission recommended Wednesday a partial suspension of Turkey's EU accession talks, which has obviously not satisfied Nicosia.

"The government is not pleased with the decision because we believe that it does not offer any form of pressure on Turkey to comply with its obligations," Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos told local media, adding the recommendation is "not helpful at all".

"There can be no effective pressure on Turkey without a time frame for a re-evaluation of Ankara's stance," he said.

On Wednesday, the European Commission said it was recommending to freeze eight of 35 negotiating chapters, or policy areas, in Turkey's EU membership talks for its refusing to implement the EU- Turkey Customs Union Protocol.

Cyprus, which joined the EU in May 2004, has been divided since 1974 when Turkey militarily intervened and occupied the north of Cyprus following a coup by a group of Greek officers.

Source: Xinhua