tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13388904.post-1163078532336733132006-11-09T15:12:00.000+02:002006-11-09T15:22:12.566+02:00ISTANBUL: The European Commission on Wednesday issued its strongest warning yet to Turkey to open its ports to Cyprus and make more progress on human rights or face a possible suspension of its membership talks.<br /><br />Speaking after the release of a report highly critical of Turkey's efforts to make reforms requested by the European Union, Olli Rehn, the EU's expansion commissioner, delivered what appeared to be an ultimatum to Turkey: to soften its intransigence over Cyprus or risk seeing its EU bid collapse.<br /><br />"Failure to implement obligations will affect the overall progress of negotiations," Rehn warned. "This is likely to be the last opportunity to make real, serious progress for some years to come on the issue of Cyprus."<br /><br />Ankara has refused to meet an end- of-year deadline set by the EU to open its ports and airports to the Greek- speaking part of Cyprus, which belongs to the EU. It insists it will not compromise on Cyprus unless the EU lifts a trade embargo against the northern Turkish side of the divided island, which Ankara alone recognizes.<br /><br />For complete article <a href="http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/11/08/news/turkey.php">CLICK HERE</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Pasha Corporation Blog Systems</div>Pasha Corporationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05654282171183926676noreply@blogger.com