Iakovou calls on Turkey to meet EU obligations

Turkey has to meet its European obligations or face any possible consequences, Cyprus Foreign Minister George Iacovou has said, recalling that Brussels is set to scrutinize Ankara’s progress towards this direction in the year ahead.

“If Turkey does not proceed with implementation of all its obligations, it will be accountable to Brussels within 2006,” he told CNA today, commenting on remarks by senior Turkish government officials that Europe has made a mistake in accepting Cyprus in its ranks and that Ankara will not move unilaterally by opening its ports and airport to Cypriot air and sea transport.

The minister said that Turkey has an obligation towards the EU but also towards Cyprus, as a member state, to ratify and implement the protocol extending its customs union agreement with Brussels to cover Cyprus too.

So far Turkey has refused to either recognize Cyprus or extend the customs union to this Eastern Mediterranean island, where Ankara maintains some 35,000 troops since it invaded and occupied its northern third. Cypriot aircraft and vessels are prohibited from using Turkish air space or ports.

Iacovou pointed out that Turkey, as an acceding country, has undertaken to meet certain obligations towards the Union, which will monitor progress towards their implementation.

The minister dismissed as “nonsense” claims by Abdullatif Sener, Turkish minister of state, that the EU has erred in accepting Cyprus as a member.