EU calls on Turkey to meet Cyprus obligations

ANKARA (Reuters) - European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso called on Turkey on Thursday to meet its obligation under European Union membership talks to open its ports to ships from Cyprus.

Ankara says it will only open its ports to Cyprus, as agreed with the EU, if the bloc fulfils a pledge to end the economic isolation of Turkish Cypriot area of the island.

"This is today the main obstacle for significant progress in Turkey's accession process," Barroso said in a speech to Turkey's parliament.

"As you are aware, several negotiating chapters are blocked and no chapter can be closed until Turkey ensures full implementation of the additional protocol," Barroso said.

Ankara does not recognise the Greek Cypriot-controlled government in the south of the island, which has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded in response to a brief Greek-inspired coup.

Barroso called on Turkey, which has stationed some 35,000 troops in northern Cyprus, not to miss the opportunity of reunification efforts in Cyprus after a presidential election there in February.

"The opportunity that we have this year might not return," he told parliament.

EU-focused reforms in Turkey have all but come to a standstill in the country over the last two years.

Even the proposed reform of a controversial penal code used against intellectuals including Nobel Literature Laureate Orhan Pamuk is weaker than Brussels might have hoped, although Barroso praised the move.