Greek Cyprus says Erdoğan remarks ‘provocative, unacceptable.'

Greek Cyprus says Erdoğan remarks ‘provocative, unacceptable.'(TZ).Greek Cyprus has strongly criticized remarks made by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Germany on Wednesday in which he said Turkey is pursuing a policy of peace and cooperation in the region.
Spokesman for the ruling Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL) George Loucaides said Erdoğan's remarks are “provocative and unacceptable,” accusing Erdoğan of “aiming to reverse the realities.”
In a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Erdoğan took a swipe at Greek Cyprus, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency, saying it should not have been allowed to join the bloc in 2004 because it was -- and remains -- split between an internationally recognized Greek Cypriot south and a northern Turkish Cypriot state recognized only by Ankara.
Turkey's talks to join the EU, launched in 2005, have all but ground to a halt due to an intractable dispute over the divided island of Cyprus, an EU member, and opposition from core EU members France and Germany.
Erdoğan said Merkel had told him in the past she also believed it had been a mistake to admit a divided Cyprus. "This was a serious mistake and the mistake continues with increasing effects," Erdoğan added.
Turkey has completed only one of 35 policy “chapters” every accession candidate must conclude to join the EU. All but 13 policy chapters in Ankara's negotiations are blocked because of the Cyprus issue and the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, says Turkey does not yet meet required standards on human rights and freedom of speech. Spokesman Loucaides accused Turkey of being the only culprit over the stalemate of Turkey's EU membership bid and said Ankara does not comply with EU acquis, decisions made by the European Council and rejects recognizing an EU member state, referring to Greek Cyprus. Loucaides described Turkey's presence in northern Cyprus as an “occupation” and claimed that Turkey's intransigent role in Cyprus talks created the current deadlock over the problem. The Greek Cypriot spokesman said it is a major contradiction to claim that Turkey is contributing to peace and cooperation in the region. Read the full story here.