ANKARA - EU-candidate Turkey will freeze relations with the European Union if Cyprus is given the EU presidency in 2012, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay was quoted as saying by state-run news agency Anatolian late on Saturday.
The comments were the strongest yet by Ankara over its opposition to the Cyprus presidency and could mark the start of a new low point in ties between the European Union and Turkey which began accession talks to the bloc in 2005.
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The comments also come at a time of heightened tension in the eastern Mediterranean where Turkey is locked in a row with Cyprus over potential offshore gas deposits. Turkey's relations with one-time ally Israel are also at a low.
"If the peace negotiations there (Cyprus) are not conclusive, and the EU
gives its rotating presidency to southern Cyprus, the real crisis will
be between Turkey and the EU," Anatolian quoted Atalay as telling
Turkish Cypriot Bayrak Radio and TV at the end of a trip to northern
Cyprus.
"Because we will then freeze our relations with the EU. We have made
this announcement, as a government we have made this decision. Our
relations with the EU will come to a sudden halt."
The internationally-recognized Greek Cypriot government is due to take on the six-month rotating EU presidency in July 2012.
Cyprus has been divided since a Turkish invasion in 1974 triggered by a
brief Greek-inspired coup. UN-sponsored peace talks between Turkish
Cypriots and Greek Cypriots have stumbled since they were relaunched in
2008.
In July, Turkey's European Union minister said freezing ties with the
Greek Cypriot EU presidency was "an option" but Atalay's comments were
the first time Ankara has said it would definitely halt relations.
Greek Cypriots represent the island internationally and in the European
Union, while Turkey is the only country to recognize the Turkish Cypriot
state. Greek Cypriots say Turkey cannot join the bloc until the Cyprus
conflict is resolved.
The rotating presidency has lost some importance since the EU's Lisbon
treaty, which established a permanent head of the European Council that
groups national governments, and a new foreign and security policy
chief. But a determined country can still shape the agenda.
Of the 35 "chapters" -- policy areas of EU law -- Turkey has completed
one, and 18 have been frozen because of opposition by EU member states
including Cyprus and France.
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