Turkey Will Continue to Put Pressure on Greece for Solution of Cyprus Problem

Monday, 05 October 2009 11:21

Turkey's foreign minister has said that Turkey would continue to put pressure on Athens for resolution of Cyprus problem.

Turkey refuses to open its ports to Greek Cypriot ships until the EU establishes trade ties with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Davutoglu said the EU accepted Greek Cypriot to the Union in 2004 and violated its principle that no country could join the bloc without having resolved their internal problems and conflicts with neighbors.

"Turkish Cypriots accepted peace plan prepared by (the then UN Secretary-General) Kofi Annan in 2004. But Greek Cypriots rejected it and yet they were allowed into the EU. Why did not EU tell them to accept the peace plan? We will continue to put pressure on Greece to resolve the problem," Davutoglu said.

Upon a question on Greek elections, Davutoglu said, "we have perfect relations with Greece."

"It was unthinkable 10 years ago. We are sure that relations will continue to be good although we could have difficulties," he said.

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