Rehn urges Turkey to fulfill its EU obligations regarding Cyprus

European Commissioner for Enlargement, Olli Rehn, urged Turkey to fulfill its contractual obligations and implement the EU – Turkey Customs Union agreement with all new EU member states, including the Republic of Cyprus.
Rehn, who met with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, said that the Finnish EU Presidency’s proposals constitute the only way to avoid an EU – Turkey crisis and Ankara should examine the proposals with great attention.
His statements were made after a meeting in Luxembourg of the EU Troika with the Turkish Foreign Minister.
Finnish Foreign Minister, Erkki Tuomioja, whose country holds the EU rotating Presidency, refrained from elaborating on the Finnish proposals, but described Turkey’s stance as positive.
”During the meeting, we discussed the reactions of the other parties involved and we will continue our efforts”, he said.
In his statements, Gul said that Turkey follows a constructive stance and called upon the two communities in Cyprus to show the same constructive spirit.
According to reports, the Finnish EU Presidency is working on a draft proposal, providing for the opening of the Turkish occupied port of Famagusta under EU administration for 24 months, in combination with the opening of Turkish ports to ships carrying the Cypriot flag and the transfer of the closed city of Varosha to the UN.