Turkey must move on Cyprus to avoid problem - EU

BRUSSELS, June 20 (Reuters) Turkey must fulfil its obligation to open its ports and airports to traffic from Cyprus to avoid serious problems in its European Union entry talks later this year, the EU's enlargement chief said today.

Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn also told the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee further progress in political and human rights reforms was absolutely necessary this year.

''If we want to avoid a major problem in the autumn, Turkey needs to stick to its word without hesitation,'' Rehn said.

''Clearly there is an alternative to a major accident, provided the parties stop complaining about past injustices and rather work on future solutions with a pragmatic approach.'' Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said in a defiant speech last Friday that Ankara would not move on the ports issue unless the EU kept its promise to end the economic isolation of Turkish Cypriot northern Cyprus by allowing direct trade.

Brussels rejects any such linkage between Turkey's treaty obligation under a protocol signed last year extending its customs union to the EU's 10 new member states, including Cyprus, and the EU's political pledge to act on northern Cyprus.

Rehn painted a mixed picture of Turkey's political and human rights situation, citing instances of intellectuals prosecuted for expressing peaceful opinions, as well as what he called recent cases of military interference with the judiciary.

Turkey does not recognise the Greek Cypriot government in Nicosia, which has blocked EU action to ease the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot north of the island, where Turkey has had 35,000 troops stationed since 1974.

The Turkish lira sank to its lowest level against the dollar since April 2003 today amid domestic political concerns, including on the EU accession process, as well as rising interest rates in major economies.

REUTERS MP PC2158