Dutch foreign minister says Turkey must meet EU obligations - Europe - International Herald Tribune: "Dutch foreign minister says Turkey must meet EU obligations
The Associated Press
Published: September 7, 2006
ATHENS, Greece Dutch Foreign Minister Ben Bot said Thursday that EU hopeful Turkey must open its harbors and airports to Cyprus if it wants to eventually join the bloc.
'Turkey has assumed certain obligations,' Bot said. 'At present, Turkey is not fulfilling those obligations.'
Despite EU pressure, Turkey refuses to sign a protocol extending its customs union with the EU to 10 countries that joined in 2004, including Cyprus, the divided Mediterranean island. That means Cypriot ships and planes cannot service Turkish air and sea ports.
Bot said the European Union 'opened the door in good faith' by accepting Turkey as a candidate member last October.
But he added that Europe 'cannot be blind to the shortcomings laid down' by a European Parliament committee on Tuesday, which warned Ankara that refusal to open its ports and make faster progress on human rights could stop its membership talks.
Bot, on a one-day visit to Greece, said he also discussed Lebanon, Europe's future and NATO expansion with Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis.
It is 'very important,' Bot said, that the EU has 'boots on the ground' as the main contributor to the expanded peacekeeping force in Lebanon, UNIFIL.
Greece will contribute naval units including a navy frigate to aid the force but has ruled out sending ground forces, as has the Netherlands.
ATHENS, Greece Dutch Foreign Minister Ben Bot said Thursday that EU hopeful Turkey must open its harbors and airports to Cyprus if it wants to eventually join the bloc."
