Turkish President Abdullah Gul has hit out at the prospect of Cyprus taking over the European Union presidency next year as "half a country" leading a "miserable union", The Jerusalem Post reports.
His comments to Turkish journalists during a visit to Britain underscored Ankara's frustrations with its EU accession process, which has ground to a halt over the division of the Mediterranean island and opposition from France and Germany.
Gul said the failure to open new chapters in Turkey's negotiating process was harming the 27-nation bloc's reputation and that it could suffer its biggest loss of credibility in 2012 when Cyprus takes over the rotating EU presidency in July.
"Now this half a country, this incomplete country will take over the EU presidency," Gul was quoted as saying by Turkish newspapers newspaper. "There will be a half-presidency leading a miserable union. That is exactly the expression I said to EU leaders."
Previously Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey will freeze all ties with the European Union, if Cyprus in fact preside it.
Turkish president slams Cypriot EU presidency
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