Turkey threatens to freeze ties with EU in case of Cyprus presidency

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish relations with the European Union "will freeze" if Cyprus takes over the EU presidency in July 2012 without a solution to the divided island, Turkey's foreign minister said on July 13.

Ahmet Davutoglu made his comments as the European Union's enlargement chief said in a visit to Ankara that he wanted to see "a new momentum" in Turkey's membership process now that Turkish parliamentary elections were over.

Muslim Turkey started accession talks in 2005 but progress has been slow, largely because of a conflict with Cyprus and the occupation of 38% of the island.

U.N.-sponsored peace talks between the two communities have stumbled since they were relaunched in 2008.

"If the Greek Cypriot side stalls negotiations and takes over the presidency of the European Union in July 2012, this means not only a deadlock on the island, but also a blockage, a freezing point in Turkey-European Union relations," Davutoglu told a news conference.

The Cyprus dispute is a major obstacle for Turkey's EU bid, aside from opposition from EU heavyweights France and Germany.

Greek Cypriots say Turkey cannot join the bloc until the Cyprus conflict is resolved.

"We should take measures now to prevent this blockage," Davutoglu said, adding that such measures should be taken before the end of this year.

The EU says Ankara must meet its pledge to open up to traffic from the Greek Cypriot part of the island as part of a 2005 agreement known as the Ankara protocol; Turkey says the EU should end its blockade of the Turkish Cypriot side.

"We want to see a new momentum in Turkey's EU membership process now that the Turkish elections are over," EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele told a news conference with Turkey's EU Minister Egemen Bagis.

During a visit to the Turkish-controlled north of the island over the weekend, Davutoglu said Turkey hoped terms for the reunification of Cyprus could be agreed by the end of the year so that a referendum could take place in early 2012, Financial Mirror reported.