Turkish FM denies allegations on concessions from Cyprus

"We consider the Cyprus issue a national case. We have been doing everything in our power to protect rights of Turkish Cypriot people," Gul said at the Parliamentary Planning and Budget Commission over the budget of the Foreign Ministry for the year 2007.

"Taking into consideration all these developments, I am really amazed at those who claim that Turkey made concessions from Cyprus. If we had made concessions, we would have said yes to anything," he said.

"Accession of the Greek Cypriot administration is against the basic principles of the EU. If we had pursued a sound policy about the Cyprus issue, we would have prevented accession of the Greek Cypriots into the EU," he said.

Referring to the recent initiative of Finland about the Cyprus issue, Gul said, "they have failed to convey us a document. Even they could not tell me their proposals."

Meanwhile, Turkish Justice Minister and Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek said on the same day after cabinet meeting, "our position and decisiveness on Cyprus is very clear. If they want our ports and airports opened to Greek Cypriots ships or planes, blockade on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) should be lifted."

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey militarily intervened and occupied the north of Cyprus following a coup by a group of Greek officers.

The internationally-recognized Republic of Cyprus entered the EU in the name of the whole island.

The EU has said that Turkey, with which it began membership talks in October last year, must open its ports and airports to traffic from Cyprus this year under an agreement extending its customs union with the EU to the 10 new EU member states including Cyprus, otherwise it will end the accessions talks with Turkey. Xinhua