In a tough progress report Wednesday, the European Commission threatened Turkey with possible suspension of membership talks unless Ankara does more - by mid-December - to protect human rights and implements a customs pact with EU member Cyprus. The commission decided against recommending the immediate suspension of year-old entry talks with Turkey, commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said. "We decided to give a chance for the diplomatic efforts to find a solution."
But Ankara must forge ahead with political and economic reforms - "with full determination" - and open its ports and airports to Cypriot goods before EU leaders meet at a Dec. 14-15 summit in Brussels, he said in a statement. "Failure to implement its obligations in full will affect the overall progress in the negotiations," Barroso said, adding that the bloc now expected "words to lead to deeds as soon as possible."
Ankara, however, insisted that Cyprus was a political issue that should have no bearing on Turkey's entry negotiations. "The Cyprus problem is a political one and is not an obligation for the negotiation process, which is a technical one," the Turkish government said in a statement. |