BRUSSELS. June 5: Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz appealed Tuesday for the European Union to overcome Greek protests that have held up a 470 million dollars aid package for Turkey, reports AP

“We expect the European Union to abide by its commitments.” Yilmaz told reporters. We see the present obstacles raised by Greece as a problem that the Union should solve.'"

But Yilmaz, battling for political survival at home, is unlikely to have found comfort in talks with EU Commission President Jacques Santer. who is powerless to unblock the aid unless Gteece agrees.

Proposals to unfreeze the aid need unanimous support among the European Union's 15 member nations. Greece refuses to go along because of a territorial dispute with Turkey over a group of Aegean Sea islands.