Turkey warns to freeze relations with EU if Greek Cyprus takes presidency before solution

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said on Wednesday that Turkey would freeze relations with the European Union if the Greek Cypriots continue to delay negotiations and assume the EU presidency before the parties reach a solution on the divided island of Cyprus.

Davutoğlu underscored that Turkey cannot accept the union as an interlocutor under the presidency of Cyprus in such a situation.

Greek Cyprus is set to assume the EU presidency in June 2012.

“I openly told this to [European Commissioner for Enlargement] Stefan Füle as well. We do not think that relations between the EU and Turkey can be maintained under the term presidency of southern Cyprus without a solution [to the Cyprus issue],” Davutoğlu said.