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EU Urges Turkey to Normalize Relations With Cyprus

   Nathan Morley | Nicosia 10 November 2010
   European  Union  High  Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security
   Policy Catherine Ashton (R) and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan
   Fule  talk  during  a  press conference in Istanbul, Turkey, after the
   Turkey-EU Ministerial Political Dialogue meeting

Photo: AFP

   European  Union  High  Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security
   Policy Catherine Ashton (R) and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan
   Füle  talk  during  a press conference in Istanbul, Turkey, after the
   Turkey-EU Ministerial Political Dialogue meeting at Ciragan Palace, 13
   Jul 2010 (file photo)

   In  its annual progress report on countries aspiring to join the bloc,
   the  European  Union chided Ankara for failing - for another year - to
   normalize relations with E.U. member Cyprus.

   The European Union said Turkey must normalize relations with Cyprus if
   it  is to realize its ambition to join the powerful bloc. Turkey still
   refuses  to  open  ports  and  airports  to  Greek Cypriot air and sea
   traffic, or officially recognize the Republic of Cyprus.
   E.U.  Enlargement  Commissioner  Stefan  Füle made his comments as he
   presented   the   first   E.U.  enlargement  package  of  the  current
   commission.
   "Turkey  has continued its particular reform process in particular the
   reform  of its constitution," said Füle. "But no one can be satisfied
   with  the  current  pace  of negotiations and let me quote, 'it is now
   urgent  that Turkey fulfills its obligation of full non-discriminatory
   implementation of the additional protocol to the association agreement
   an makes progress toward normalization of bilateral relations with the
   Republic of Cyprus'."
   In  a related development, Britain's former foreign minister this week
   has  caused  outrage  in  the  Greek  Cypriot  sector  of Cyprus after
   suggesting partition of the island should be considered.
   Jack  Straw  said  that if Greek and Turkish leaders in Cyprus can not
   sort  out  their differences next week at U.N. talks in New York, then
   Britain should consider the partition of Cyprus.
   Straw  also  accused  Greek  Cypriot  Cyprus of using stall tactics in
   Turkey's accession talks.
   "Greek  Cypriot  Cyprus is using what is a relatively tiny dispute, so
   far  as  numbers  are concerned - though crucial in the terms of human
   beings  - to try and stop Turkey coming into the European Union," said
   Straw.  "And  Turkey  is  being  much  more  harshly  treated in these
   negotiations  than,  for  example,  its neighbors Bulgaria and Romania
   ever were."
   Straw's  remarks  came  as  Turkish  and Greek Cypriot leaders, Dervis
   Eroglu   and  Dimitris  Christofias,  met  for  the  latest  round  of