Turkey Urges More Cyprus Talks, Slams Oil Search

Turkey has accused Greek Cypriot leaders of using their veto rights over Turkey`s bid to join the EU to strengthen their position.

Talks between Greek and Turkish Cypriots on reunifying the divided Mediterranean island should move faster and should not be open-ended, a Turkish foreign ministry official said on Wednesday.

Leaders of the two communities resumed talks in September to end the partition of Cyprus, but have recently accused each other of undermining a fragile peace process in a dispute over Greek Cypriot oil exploration.

"We are pleased to hear Greek officials see slow movement because we also say that progress is extremely slow," Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Burak Ozugergin told a news conference.

"Perhaps the frequency of the talks may be increased, perhaps the modalities of the talks can be reviewed...The Cyprus issue must be given a timeframe. It cannot remain open-ended."

In a growing dispute, Cyprus has accused Turkey of harassing research vessels on four occasions since Nov. 13 in areas it has earmaked for future oil and gas exploration. Turkey has said the ships were on its continental shelf.

Cyprus was split in a Turkish invasion in 1974 triggered by a Greek-inspired coup. Greek Cypriots represent the island internationally and in the European Union, which Turkey seeks to join.

Ozugergin said plans by Greek Cypriots to press ahead with oil exploration while reunification talks were under way were part of the Greek Cypriots' "adventurist psychology".

Turkey has accused Greek Cypriot leaders of using their veto rights over Turkey's bid to join the EU to strengthen their position at the negotiating table on the issue of reunification.

"We don't see how Greek Cypriot (oil) explorations would conform to the interests of the EU. We repeat at every opportunity that there is no place for opportunism in Turkish-EU relations," Ozugergin said.

Turkey started EU entry talks in late 2005, but they have been hobbled by its refusal to recognise Greek Cyprus. Turkey has repeatedly criticised the 27-member bloc for freezing sections of its entry negotiations over Ankara's refusal to open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriots.

"Putting the Cyprus issue as an obstacle before Turkish-EU relations will make things more difficult and I don't see that it will contribute to a solution in Cyprus either," Ozugergin said.

A settlement on Cyprus has eluded diplomats for decades, most recently in 2004 when then U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan drew up a plan for a settlement that was put to referendums on both sides of the island. It was approved by the Turkish Cypriots but rejected by Greek Cypriots.