Visiting British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Saturday that Britain could start direct flights to northern Cyprus unless there is a legal obstacle.

Blair, who arrived in Ankara late Friday for a one-day working visit, made the remarks at a joint news conference at Ankara's Esenboga airport with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan before his departure for Cairo.

Blair said his administration was investigating the issue, yet noted that he could not make a promise at this stage.

He said Turkey should fulfill the obligations required by the EU-Turkey Customs Union additional protocol, which prescribed the extension of Turkey's customs union to the ten new EU member states including the Republic of Cyprus, yet noted that EU should also fulfill its commitments.

When referring to the EU commitments, Blair said he meant removal of the blockade, ending restrictions on Turkish Cypriots and having direct trade with them.

The issue of opening Turkey's ports to the Republic of Cyprus is at the core of Turkey-EU dispute which led to the partial suspension of Ankara's membership talks, as Turkey refuses to do so, insisting that the international community must first move to ease the isolation imposed on the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north.

Regarding Turkey's recent setback in its EU membership talks, Blair said Britain strongly supported Turkey's EU membership from the beginning, indicating that continuation of the process was important despite recent difficulties and the partial suspension of eight chapters.

Noting Turkey's strategic importance, the British prime minister said Turkey's position between the Middle East and Europe was important for the EU.

"European Union membership for Turkey is not just important to Turkey itself, in my view, it is of fundamental importance to the future of Europe," Blair said.

Even eight chapters were suspended, there were still 27 chapters to negotiate, Blair said, adding that now it is necessary to focus on future as the decision had already been made. The frozen chapters could be unfrozen once the conditions were met, he reiterated.

Blair also called for early solution to the Cyprus issue through the United Nations, saying that the process should be re- activated with the new UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, due to take office on Jan. 1, 2007. A solution for the Cyprus issue would make everything easier, Blair said.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey militarily intervened and occupied the north of Cyprus following a coup by a group of Greek officers.

The internationally-recognized Republic of Cyprus entered the EU in 2004 in the name of the whole island. The breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is recognized by Turkey only.

Source: Xinhua