Merkel urges Turkey to open ports to Cyprus

German Chancellor Angela Merkel s Monday aid that in order to achieve progress in its EU accession talks Turkey should open its ports to ships and planes from Cyprus and help press Iran to stop its controversial nuclear program.

Mrs. Merkel said that Turkey’s EU accession talks are “open-ended,” but didn’t repeat her long-standing suggestion to give Turkey a “privileged partnership” that falls short of full EU membership.

Germany is committed to reached agreements and “we are continuing the membership talks,” she remarked before reporters at a joint press conference with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.