EU demands that Turkey opens its ports to Cypriot ships before mid-December

European Union may freeze membership talks if Turkey fails to fulfill its liabilities towards Cyprus as regards customs union before EU summit to be held inDecember 2006, Finland, the current holder of the EU's rotating presidency, has announced today, PRIME-TASS reports. Turkey should open its ports and airports to Cypriot ships and aircrafts. Turkey agreed last year to extend its customs union with the EU to Cyprus, which joined the bloc in 2004, but has not done so, with the result that Turkish ports and airports remain closed to Cypriot traffic. This “crises” is developing against the background of worsening relationsof Ankara with a number of key states of Western Europe, the majority of whose voters are against Turkey to become EU member.