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Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Cyprus may be main victim of Turkey-EU deadlock

"Cyprus may be main victim of Turkey-EU deadlock
By Michele Kambas

IN THE looming showdown between Turkey and the European Union over its troubled entry talks, the biggest casualty could be Cyprus, in what some say may be a self-inflicted wound for the divided island.

If EU members, unhappy with Ankara's slow reforms, and Cypriot demands make for a negative November 8 progress report on Turkey, it could lead EU leaders to freeze or postpone the talks, dashing hopes of stalled peace talks resuming anytime soon.

'It would be a huge own goal if it goes wrong,' said Hubert Faustmann, political analyst at Nicosia’s Intercollege. 'The moment Turkey is blocked, they can kiss hopes of finding a Cyprus solution goodbye.'

Cyprus has been blocking Turkey's access negotiations for the past five months, citing Ankara's obligation to open its ports and airports to traffic from the island since it invaded in 1974.

Turkey has dug its heels in. Despite warnings from Brussels, it has refused to implement treaty obligations on Cyprus, demanding the EU meet its own promises to ease the economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriots."

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