Dutch minister gives Cyprus assurance

Both the Turkish and Greek sides are set to vote on a U.N.-backed reunification plan which will be presented for twin referenda on both sides on April 24.

Gul conveyed Turkish concerns in a situation where the Greek side rejects and the Turkish side approves the U.N. plan in the referenda, in an informal meeting of European ministers in Ireland last week, calling on Europe to take the necessary measures in order for Turkish Cyprus not to be punished in such a situation.

"We have never been so close to a settlement before, this is an historic opportunity for both sides," said Nicolai adding that Greek rejection of the plan would be a bad outcome.

The Dutch minister said that in such a situation, the EU would have to revise its policy on Cyprus. Nicolai declined to elaborate what kind of a revision this would be but noted that the EU would coordinate with the U.N. in such a case.

"In this framework, the Greek side has a huge responsibility concerning the settlement process of the Cyprus problem," he went on to say.

The minister said they also took up the issue of Turkey’s getting a go-ahead to start accession talks in the coming EU summit in December during their talks with Gul.

"There have been many important and positive developments in Turkey on its way to the EU and the EU is closely following these developments," said Nicolai.

Gul said he briefed the Dutch minister on Turkey’s reform process in detail, adding Turkey and the Netherlands were in close cooperation.

The Netherlands will hold the EU’s next term presidency and is to host the EU Summit in December.

Turkey, having passed a flurry of EU-inspired democratic reforms and done much of its homework on its way to the EU, is strongly expecting to get the go-ahead to start its long delayed accession talks with the Union.