Turkey to Open Ports to Cyprus

Turkey today offered to open one of its ports and an airport to Cyprus in an attempt to resolve a dispute that threatens to derail Ankara's EU membership alks.

The EU is seeking clarification of Turkey's offer in order to determine whether the move will be enough to avoid a partial suspension of EU entry talks, which the European commission recommended last month.

Turkey proposes granting Greek Cypriots access to the port and airport in exchange for the opening to international traffic of the port of Famagusta, in Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus, and Ercan airport, near he divided capital of Nicosia, according to the state-owned Anatolia news agency.

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"This is a goodwill gesture aimed at strengthening Turkey's hand and the hand of those EU members who are against a partial suspension of talks," Cengiz Aktar, a columnist and EU analyst, told the Turkish NTV elevision network.

The European commission last month called for a partial suspension of the complex set of negotiations on Turkish membership. Brussels recommended a suspension of eight out of 35 negotiating "chapters", or detailed policy areas.

Turkey and its supporters in the EU, which include Britain, had hoped for a less severe punishment for Ankara's continued refusal to open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot shipping. Britain had hoped that only three chapters, directly linked to Cyprus, would be suspended.

An EU summit is to make a decision next week on whether to accept the commission's recommendations.

Cyprus has been split ever Turkey's invasion in 1974, when Ankara sent in troops after a Greek Cypriots, backed by Greece's then ruling military junta, staged a coup.

Part of the island formed a breakaway state, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The enclave, recognised only by Turkey, has been subject to an international embargo for years.

Cyprus became an EU member in May 2004, and the EU last year demanded that Turkey permit Cypriot ships to use its ports during the course of 2006. Turkey refused to do so until he EU fulfilled a pledge to end he economic isolation of northern Cyprus, a move the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot government in Nicosia has blocked.

Nicosia continues to oppose EU efforts to establish direct rade and economic links to the north of the island.