Holland calls for tougher measures on EU candidate Turkey

Holland on Monday urged European parliamentarians to take tougher measures on Turkey over Ankara's persistent refusal to open its harbors and airports to traffic from the Republic of Cyprus, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

Holland's Foreign Minister Bernard Bot sent a letter to the EP which demanded harsher messages for Turkey whose European Union ( EU) entry talks faced partial suspension after a recommendation by EU's executive body last week.

European Commission recommended Wednesday to halt 8 of the 35 policy areas or chapters in Turkey's membership negotiations relating to such matters as the free movement of goods, financial services, agriculture, fisheries, transport policy, customs union policy and external relations issues.

In his letter, Bot characterized the commission's recommendation as "insufficient" and urged a "stronger tone" toward the country.

But Bot did not specify what kind of measures a stronger tone might be.

EU foreign ministers are expected to discuss the issue at a meeting in Brussels on Dec. 11, and EU leaders are expected to meet at a summit on Dec. 14-15 to say the final word on whether Turkey's entry talks can continue.

On Friday, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejected a recommendation by the EU to partially suspend Turkey's EU entry talks, saying, "this decision is unacceptable for us."

Turkey has been defying repeated EU demands to open its ports and airports to traffic from Cyprus, insisting that the international community must first move to ease the isolation of the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus", which is recognized only by Ankara.

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 2004 in the name of the whole island. Turkey began membership talks with the EU in October last year.

Source: Xinhua