Greece criticises EU over Turkish Cypriot trade initiative

(ATHENS) - Greece on Thursday criticised the European Union Commission for allegedly failing to consult Cyprus before seeking to unblock trade relations with the island's breakaway Turkish Cypriot state.

Athens said the commission, the European Union's executive arm, had "given an impression of poor faith" in seeking to lift an embargo on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) which the internationally-recognised Cyprus government maintains was illegally set up after a Turkish invasion in 1974.

"There is an impression of poor faith on behalf of the Commission," Greek foreign ministry spokesman Grigoris Delavekouras told reporters, adding that Athens would support Cyprus in contesting the initiative.

"Greece will stand by (Cyprus's) side every step of the way with every means at its disposal both at European Parliament and at EU Council level," the spokesman said.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops occupied its northern third in response to an Athens-engineered Greek Cypriot coup aimed at uniting the island with Greece.

The European Union in June approved steps to facilitate trade relations between the TRNC and the internationally-recognised Republic of Cyprus to support ongoing reunification talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

Turkey refuses to open its ports and airports to Cypriot ships and planes until negotiations on the status of the divided island are concluded.

"The Commission must do what is self-evident, to cooperate with member states. It cannot treat this as a procedural matter when it knows that it concerns vital interests of a member-state and could affect the (reunification) talks," Delavekouras said.

Turkish Cypriot leaders declared their breakaway state in 1983 but it is recognised only by Turkey, which still keeps some 35,000 troops in the north of the island.