Turkish PM lashes out at E.U. over Cyprus - border disputes

"They cheated us. Both matters are vitally important for Turkey. On both matters there are some concessions we can never give," Ecevit told members of his Democratic Left Party on Wednesday.

Ankara is angry over the inclusion of a paragraph on the Cyprus problem in the Accession Partnership Document that was released by the E.U. Commission two weeks ago. Turkey is also angry over Greek efforts to have Aegean border disputes included in the final version of the document.

European Union foreign ministers are to meet on December 4 to decide whether to amend the document, including whether to include the border dispute or to omit the reference to the Cyprus problem.

"I hope the (foreign ministers) come to a conclusion that meets Turkey's expectations on Cyprus and the Aegean. In any case, if it is not reached to a conclusion like this Turkey's reaction won't be merely in words," Ecevit warned.

"But I must also mention that Turkey won't freeze its membership candidacy or its aim to be a full member." Over the weekend, Ecevit told reporters that Turkey would have to "review its relations" with the E.U. if Ankara's demands were not met.

The prime minister also criticized what he said were attempts by European politicians to portray Kurdish people as a minority. He said Turks and Kurds were in "inseparable unity" and that it was wrong for European politicians to try and find similarities between the situation in Turkey and that in Corsica or the Basque country.

"The Turkish nation is sick of this nonsense and we will not listen to it," Ecevit said.

(la/dpa)