Miliband backs Turkey's EU bid

ANKARA, Turkey, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Turkish accession to the European Union will be a tremendous benefit to Ankara and to the region, said British Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

Turkey embarked on its accession negotiations with the European Union in 2005. Ankara has moved on a series of concessions meant to meet the policy requirements to join Europe but faces obstacles on various provisions over the island of Cyprus.

Cyprus has been divided into a Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish-occupied north since 1974. Ankara does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member. Its ships and planes are banned from Turkish ports and airports.

The European Union is scheduled to consider the situation at a December summit. Turkish daily Today's Zaman reports that officials from Brussels say any new sanctions regarding Ankara's decision to open trading routes from Geek Cyprus could kill the accession bid.

Miliband arrived in Ankara earlier in the week to meet with key government officials, lauding the benefits of Turkey's bid to join the European Union.

"Turkey is a key partner for the U.K. And it's a European partner," he said. "I am very clear that Turkish accession to the EU is important and will be of huge benefit to both Turkey and the EU."