“I warned my counterparts that if Turkey does not meet its commitments, we reserve the right to block the start of accession negotiations,” Papadopoulos told the Greek daily Imerisia in an interview.

Ankara must extend an existing 1963 customs protocol it has with the European Union to encompass the 10 new members which entered last May, including Cyprus. Diplomats say the move represents a tacit recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, although in order to secure Turkish agreement, Jan Peter Balkenende, holder of the EU presidency, was obliged to agree to spell out that extending the protocol was not tantamount to recognition of the Greek Cypriot government in Nicosia.

The October deadline may bring on a resumption of reconciliation talks between Turkish and Greek Cypriots, in order to avoid what would be seen as a rebuff of Northern Cyprus by the Turkish government. Papadopoulos avoided a clear answer on whether he would attend new negotiations. “The question is premature. It depends on the agenda, on the process, the framework and the ability for substantive negotiations.”

However, the President ruled out talks based on the Annan plan, which was overwhelmingly rejected by Greek Cypriots last April. Recent polls have shown that the proportion of people against the plan has hardly changed since April, despite the chorus of disapprobation from the UK, the US and many other countries, which is seen in Cyprus as anti-democratic.