Barroso: Turkey should open its ports to Greek Cypriots

THE PRESIDENT of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso yesterday urged Turkey to fulfil its European Union obligation and open its ports to Cyprus.
“We have a historic opportunity in Cyprus,” Barroso, on a three-day visit to Turkey, said of the recent agreement between Greek and Turkish Cypriots to restart stalled reunification talks.

“I know all the necessary steps will be made on this issue but during this procedure, Turkey should open its ports to Greek Cypriots,” he said during in a speech in the Turkish parliament.

“This is today the main obstacle for significant progress in Turkey's accession process."

The EU has blocked several of Turkey’s negotiating chapters over its refusal to open its ports and airports to Cyprus.

“And no chapter can be closed until Turkey ensures full implementation of the additional protocol," Barroso said.

Ankara says it will fulfil its obligation if the EU fulfils its pledge to end the Turkish Cypriots’ economic isolation.

Erdogan said his country backed a rapid settlement to Cyprus' 34-year division between its Turkish and Greek communities, which lies at the core of the dispute.

On Wednesday, Barroso warned that attempts to ban Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Islamic-rooted governing party could harm ties with the European Union.

“It is not normal that the party that was chosen by the majority of the Turkish people is now under this kind of investigation,” Barroso said.

Turkey's Constitutional Court has agreed to hear the chief prosecutor's case for shutting down the party and banning Erdogan, President Abdullah Gul and 70 others from politics for five years.

Of course they should open their ports to cypriot shipping ,as cyprus should lift all bans against northern cyprus.
This type of diplomacy rarely if ever works.
Lets sit down and work out our problems,not "throw a wobbly" and take our toys home to play