Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos implied on Thursday that European Union (EU) member Cyprus reserves the right to block Turkey's accession talks if Ankara does not change its stance towards Cyprus.

The EU Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) reached a consensus Wednesday on opening one negotiation chapter on enterprise and industrial policy with Turkey by the end of this year.

Commenting on the COREPER decision, Papadopoulos was quoted by Cyprus News Agency as saying that the move was in accordance with the conclusions of the European Council.

However, he stressed, every EU member state maintains the right to allow or block the opening of negotiating chapters, based on the acquis communautaire (the EU law and regulations) and the criteria set for candidate states.

"Every chapter will be examined according to existing circumstances, depending on Turkey's attitude towards Cyprus and the contents of the chapter," the Cypriot President said.

On Dec. 15, EU leaders agreed to suspend eight of 35 negotiation chapters, or policy areas, for Turkey's refusal to open its traffic to EU member the Republic of Cyprus. But they said talks should move forward in other areas.

However, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said in a news conference on Tuesday that Turkey hopes to open chapters of education and culture, financial services, economic and monetary policy immediately, apart from the enterprise and industrial policy.

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 has refused to open its harbors and ports to Cyprus as prescribed by an agreement with the EU until the bloc keeps its promise to ease the international isolation of the divided island's Turkish community recognized only by Turkey.

Source: Xinhua