05/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - The decision by Turkish authorities to cancel the European Parliament environment committee's visit to Ankara, because of its inclusion of Cypriot MEP Marios Matsakis (ALDE), has brought strong reaction from several MEPs. Turkey accuses Mr Matsakis of “anti-Turkish propaganda” and last week called on the Chairman on the parliamentary committee Karl-Heinz Florenz (EPP-ED, Germany) to remove the Cypriot MEP from the list of those travelling, indicating that, if this were not done, the trip would quite simply be cancelled. Mr Florenz refused and the visit was effectively cancelled at the very last minute. “Turkey's reaction is unacceptable,” Mr Florenz said, stressing that the committee dealt with environmental issues “not relations between Turkey and Cyprus”. He concluded, “This incident shows that Turkey still has some way to go and is not ready for Europe”. Werner Langen (EPP-ED, Germany) is of the opinion even that “Turkey is trying to cause the accession negotiations to be halted”, in order later to blame the EU. Finnish Green MEP Satu Hassi deputy chair of the environment committee, who backs Turkey's accession to the EU, was also critical of Ankara's “disappointing” attitude. (hb)