Cyprus to push for timetable for Turkey to meet obligations

Cypriot Foreign Minister George Lillikas left on Wednesday for Paris to push for a timetable for Turkey to fulfill its obligations towards Cyprus during its EU accession talks.

"It is very important that France and Germany have decided and share a common position as regards setting a new rendezvous for a new evaluation for Turkey and the fulfillment of its obligations towards the EU and its member states," he told local media at Larnaca airport.

Lillikas said that without a new date or time-frame for the evaluation, Turkey will have no incentive to meet its obligations to open airports and seaports to Cyprus.

The Cypriot minister plans to meet French officials on EU- Turkish negotiations and to be briefed on the latest meeting between French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the issue.

Merkel urged EU on Tuesday to impose another review of Turkey's EU entry negotiations after 18 months of the process, which was backed by Jacques Chirac and applauded by Cyprus.

EU ministers are going to take this issue next week and the EU- Turkey relationship is probably high on the agenda in the following EU summit.

German and French leaders also voiced their support for the partial suspension of Turkey's EU membership negotiations after Ankara failed to open up to trade with the Republic of Cyprus.

The European Commission last week recommended slowing down Turkey's entry talks by freezing eight of the 35 negotiating chapters, or policy areas, after Ankara refused to fully extend a customs agreement and open up its ports to Cyprus.

Turkey has argued that the "international isolation" of the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north, which is recognized by Turkey only, should be first lifted.

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.

Source: Xinhua