Merkel urges Turkey to open ports to Cypriot vessels (Roundup)

Mar 29, 2010, 16:12 GMT

Ankara - German Chancellor Angela Merkel, on a two-day visit to EU-candidate Turkey, Monday urged Ankara to open up its ports to Greek Cypriot vessels, something it had previously agreed to do as part of its membership negotiations.

Turkey currently forbids ships and planes from Cyprus, an EU member, to enter the country. Ankara had previously signed an agreement, known as the Ankara Protocol, which would allow for Greek Cypriot vessels into Turkey.

In a press conference with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Merkel said that the Cyprus issue stands as a major barrier to Turkey's EU aspirations.

'In my mind, the most important issue to resolve is the Ankara Protocol, as the current situation is such that the Cyprus issue is unresolved,' Merkel said of Turkey's continuing EU accession talks.

Merkel has previously stated that, rather than full EU membership, she would rather see Turkey be given a 'privileged partnership' with the bloc.

Turkish officials have strongly rejected this suggestion. In Ankara, Merkel said that the accession talks will continue.

'Irrespective of the fact that we still have divergent opinions over full membership, we nevertheless want to continue along this path,' Merkel said in reference to the ongoing negotiations.

'We are taking big steps forward,' in terms of joining the EU, Erdogan said.

Merkel's visit, which will also take her to Istanbul, exposed other rifts between Germany and Turkey. Among the topics Merkel and Erdogan discussed was the question of how to deal with Iran's nuclear program.

The chancellor said the international community might be forced to consider stronger measures on the issue. 'If Iran does not in the end show transparency over the question of nuclear energy, we must also consider sanctions,' Merkel said.

Erdogan, whose country has been deepening its trade and political relations with Iran, disagreed. 'We are of the view that sanctions is not a healthy path and that the best route is diplomacy,' Erdogan said.

Germany is Turkey's largest trading partner and some 3 million Turks live in the country, the largest groups of Turks living outside of Turkey.

The status of those Turks is another area of disagreement between Merkel and Turkish leaders.

Erdogan, who has previously warned Turks living in Germany about the dangers of 'assimilation,' suggested in a recent interview that Turkish schools be set up in the country.

In Ankara, Merkel said she does not oppose the creation of schools that teach Turkish in Germany, but they cannot be substitutes for integrating into German society.

'What is unacceptable, is for this to be an excuse for Turks living in Germany not to learn the German language,' the chancellor said.

'The language of the country one lives in is the precondition for good integration,' Merkel said, stressing that the goal was not assimilation.

'This is about everybody keeping their roots, their culture and their belief, but those of the third and fourth generation living in Germany should be able to participate in our social life.'

Merkel is scheduled to go to Istanbul on Tuesday, where she will visit local monuments and a German-language high school. She is also scheduled to meet with German and Turkish business leaders.