Brussels, 08/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - Conclusions, adopted on Tuesday 8 December by the General Affairs Council on the subject of Turkey, strike the “right balance” between, on one hand, recognition of progress made in reform (legal sector, Kurd issue, etc.) and, on the other, the reminder that Turkey must do more, for example with regard to fundamental freedoms, said Council President Carl Bildt. Despite insistence from Cyprus, the Council did not take any new penalties against Turkey for failure to apply the Ankara Protocol on extension of customs union. In their conclusions, ministers simply pointed out that measures already taken in December 2006 (suspension of eight chapters in membership talks) will remain in place until Turkey has met its commitments. The Commission was invited to closely monitor the situation and to report on it in its annual progress reports, so that the Council may regularly come back to this issue to take stock. Ministers called on Ankara to open ports and airports to Cypriots “without further delay”. (H.B./transl.jl).