Turkish EU membership talks stall on Greek Cypriot issue

Turkey today accused the European Union of bowing to Greek Cypriot pressure and being hesitant to take bolder steps on the Cyprus stand-off.

The country also claimed that a solution to the long-running dispute could only be found at the United Nations.

"The EU has once again refrained" from taking steps, Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan told a weekly news conference.

"We don't accept the EU's bowing to pressure, especially pressure from Greek Cypriots."

Tan argued that the EU could not provide "the right formula for a comprehensive solution."

"The place for a comprehensive solution is the United Nations," Tan said.

The comments came after EU ministers agreed to partially suspend membership talks with Turkey because it refuses to open up to trade with EU-member Cyprus.

Ankara does not recognise the Greek Cypriot government in the south of the divided island, and Turkey is the only country to recognise the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in the north.

"It is out of the question for Turkey to take unilateral steps" to open its ports and airports to Cyprus, "unless the isolation of Turkish Cypriots is lifted," Tan said.

Turkey says the Cyprus dispute must be resolved at the United Nations because the EU cannot be impartial with Cyprus as a member.

"Our stance on this has not changed, and won't change," he said. "We will closely monitor the decision to lift the isolation" of Turkish Cypriots.

Tan also urged the EU to take a broader look at its relations with Turkey and reconsider the country's strategic importance.

The Mediterranean island has been divided into a Greek Cypriot south and a Turkish Cypriot north since 1974, when Turkey invaded to stop a coup by supporters of union with Greece.

Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, after Greek Cypriots rejected a UN reunification plan that Turkish Cypriots supported.