ATHENS, Oct 10: Turkey must resolve differences with its neighbour Greece especially over the divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus before it can join the European Union, Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos said on Sunday.

"Greece must help Turkey to become a European country, as this would be in EU and Greek interests," said Stephanopoulos. "But Turkey must also be reminded of its obligations to Greece and Cyprus," he added, speaking at an annual commemoration ceremony.

With improvements in traditionally hostile relations between the two, Greece, an EU member, has backed Turkey's efforts to join the EU, which received a boost last week with a report by the EU Commission recommending a start to membership negotiations.

But Stephan opoulos recalled on old sore in relations, Cyprus, warning: "This is a moment to remember that Turkey cannot join the EU if it does not normalise its relations with Greece, recognise the Cypriot Republic and contribute to a solution to the Cyprus problem."

The Cypriot Republic is the Greek-Cypriot majority region of the island, divided into Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot areas after Turkish troops invaded in 1974 to prevent Cyprus declaring unification with Greece.

Greece embarked in 1999 on a policy of rapprochement with Turkey but bilateral disputes remain, chiefly Cyprus with strained relations between its Cypriot and Turkish communities.

In a referendum last April, Turkish Cypriots gave strong support to a United Nations plan to end the 30-year division. But the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot community rejected the plan, ensuring that they alone joined the EU last May 1.

Greek Cypriots, backed by Greece, are categorically opposed to any move implying recognition of the separate Turkish community called the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), recognised only by Turkey.

Stephanopoulos also called on Turkey to recognise the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul and allow a Greek Orthodox seminary to be reopened in Turkey. He was speaking during a commemoration of the 1571 Battle of Lepanto off the west coast of Greece when a fleet of the Holy League, linking the Pope, Spain, Venice, Genoa, Savoy, Naples and others defeated an Ottoman force. -AFP