The EU will officially warn Turkey that it has failed to fulfil its obligation to open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot ships and aircraft, it emerged yesterday.The warning is contained in the European Commission’s (EC) draft report on Turkey’s accession progress, a copy of which was obtained by Bayrak TV in the north of Cyprus. Bayrak TV featured the report in a broadcast on Wednesday, and it received wide coverage in the Turkish press the following day. The report, which is due to be published officially on 14 October, refers to the autumn deadline set for Turkey to comply with this obligation as part of its EU candidacy process. Turkey’s continued non-compliance with this and other obligations resulted in eight of the 35 chapters (policy areas) of its accession negotiation being suspended in December 2006.According to Turkish English-language newspaper Today’s Zaman, “the draft report states that negotiations between the Turkish and Greek Cypriots are continuing, and that no other chapters are planned to be suspended unless there is a demand from member states.”On Thursday, Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Egemen Bagis – who is also his country’s chief EU negotiator – reiterated his government’s position that Turkey had no intention of opening its ports and airports to Cypriot-flagged ships and aircraft until the EU establishes direct trade with the Turkish Cypriots.“There are certain expectations that we will reopen our ports, but there are guarantees Turkey must receive to meet these expectations that have to do with ending the isolation imposed on Turkish Cyprus,” Bagis said.He added: “Until EU countries begin direct trade with Turkish Cyprus and land their planes at Ercan airport, I don't find it sincere or believable that Greek Cypriot planes and ships can use our airports and harbours.”Government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said yesterday that Turkey’s obligation to open its ports and airports to Cypriot ships and aircraft is not conditional on any other commitment towards Turkey either by the European Union or Cyprus. He added that the attempt by Bagis to link the lifting of the port embargo with the EU lifting the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots “is outside the letter and the spirit of Ankara’s commitments to the EU and its member states, including Cyprus.”The Foreign Ministry had no comment to offer on the leak of the EC report, other than to say that they “await the publication of the report in October”.
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