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GERMANY: MOVE ON CYPRIOT TRAFFIC IS SIGNIFICANT December 8, 2006
Zainab Osman
(SomaliNet) The European Commission on Thursday said a last-minute Turkish offer to open one port and an airport to Greek Cypriot traffic appeared to be a 'significant move' although details of the initiative were still unclear.
If these proposals were constructive they represented 'positive elements' to be taken into consideration by European Union foreign ministers who meet in Brussels next week and by the bloc's leaders who gather in the Belgian capital for an EU summit on December.
The eleventh-hour Turkish move should have a positive impact on Turkey's troubled bid to join the EU, but the commission was seeking further clarification and information on the bid. The commission - the EU's executive arm - called last week for a partial freeze in Turkey's membership negotiations over Ankara's refusal to fully implement the so-called Ankara Protocol which commits Turkey to opening its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot traffic.
Ankara has so far refused to comply, saying the EU must first end its trade boycott of northern Turkish Cyprus. The Turkish Foreign Ministry had previously said that the possibility of opening its ports to Greek Cypriot vessels was being discussed.
Germany and France have taken a tough line but Britain, backed by Spain, Italy, Sweden and several EU newcomers including Poland favor Turkish accession.
Turkey, with a population of 70 million, would be the first mainly Muslim country in the EU if it is admitted to the bloc. However, even if negotiations for EU entry go smoothly, Turkish admission is not expected before 2020.