LUXEMBOURG CITY, Luxembourg, June 12 (UPI) -- The European Union will increase pressure on Turkey to recognize the Republic of Cyprus in a bid to reinvigorate accession talks with Ankara.
Turkey has until the end of the year to let Cypriot ships into Turkish ports, and allow Cypriot planes to land at the country's airports.
Objections by Cyprus had threatened to scrap accession talks, but the Austrian EU presidency in last-minute talks managed to convince Cyprus not to veto the process.
Turkey's Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, who had vowed to stay away from the EU foreign ministers meeting if Cyprus didn't give in, is on his way to Luxembourg, the BBC reported.
Ankara so far has done little to convince EU officials it will push through reforms implementing some 35 EU policy "chapters" which have to be fulfilled for the membership bid to succeed.
The island of Cyprus, a popular Mediterranean tourist destination, has been divided into a Republic of Cyprus -- the Greek Cypriot south -- and a Turkish-occupied north since a 1974 Turkish invasion.
The Republic of Cyprus joined the EU in May 2004.
