NICOSIA (AFP) - Nicosia said yesterday it would take unspecified action against Turkey if it continues to keep its ports closed to Cypriot traffic despite agreeing to include the island in an EU customs agreement.

“The government will await developments and will act accordingly within the framework of the European Union,” government spokesman Kypros Chryssostomidis told reporters.

Ankara this week agreed to extend its EU customs agreement to the 10 new Union members, including Cyprus, whose government Turkey refuses to recognize until the island’s partition has ended. Despite EU remonstrations, Turkey also insists that signing the customs deal does not mean that Cypriot ships and aircraft will be allowed into Turkish sea and air ports

“There are methods by which the European Union can compel (Ankara) to respect these obligations,” Chryssostomidis said.