UK's Blair says would be mistake if EU rejects Turkey

RIGA, Nov 29 (Reuters) Europe would be making a serious mistake in the long-term if it sends an adverse signal to Turkey on European Union membership, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said today.

''We have got to make sure we allow Turkey's accession (to the EU) to proceed,'' Blair said in Riga after talks with Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan. ''Just at the moment to send an adverse signal to Turkey I think would be a serious mistake for Europe long-term,'' Blair said.

A source familiar with the decision in Brussels said the European Commission decided today to recommend a partial suspension of Turkey's EU membership talks over its failure to open its ports to traffic from Cyprus.

REUTERS PDM VV1540