WASHINGTON–DC (Anadolu)–Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Daniel Fried said Turkey should open its sea ports and airports to Cyprus if it hopes to become a member of the European Union. He also said that the US will never recognize the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and only aims to reunite the island.
At a conference held by the Greek Cypriots–Fried said–"Turkey should open its ports to Cyprus ships and airplanes and fulfill its responsibility of expanding the Customs Union agreement in a way to include the Republic of Cyprus."
Fried stated that the United States will continue helping the both parts reach a solution with the help of the United Nations and two-party talks.
But he added: "We do not recognize and will not recognize any government other than the Republic of Cyprus on the Cyprus Island. We are quite open about this issue. None of our policies are aimed at recognizing another political existence; the United States does not even imply this. Cyprus is a single country. We have a single embassy there and it will remain so."
