European Union not satisfied with Turkish offer on Cyprus

"Positive step" is seen as insufficient

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Turkey’s offer to ease its blockade on the Republic of Cyprus is not enough for the European Union.
      Earlier on Thursday, the Turkish Ministry for Foreign Affairs told EU Presidency-holder Finland that Turkey could open one important harbour and one airport to planes and vessels from Cyprus.
      Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja said that the Turkish move was a "positive step". He said that the proposal will affect what the member states decide next week on continuing membership talks with Turkey.
      The European Commissioner for Enlargement, Olli Rehn, also felt that Turkey’s move was an "important step". However, he also felt that it is not sufficient, and does not constitute the full implementation of the extra protocol of the so-called Ankara Treaty.
      "This is such a big issue that the whole Commission should be convened for it. There is not enough time", Rehn said to Helsingin Sanomat.
     
According to CNN Türk, the Turkish government wants something in in return: it says that Ercan airport in North Cyprus should be opened to international air transport.
      Cyprus resists this idea because it would be seen as a recognition of the legitimacy of North Cyprus, which has been under Turkish occupation since 1974.
      Turkey hopes that its gesture will help avert the partial feezing of its EU accession talks. Finland hopes that the matter will be decided by the foreign ministers of the EU member states in Brussels on Monday next week. Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen does not want the dispute to be shifted to next week’s summit.
     
Greece rejected Turkey’s proposal from the outset, saying that Turkey should unconditionally open all of its harbours and airports to Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004. Nevertheless, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso welcomed the Turkish gesture.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Commissioner Rehn: Cyprus failure to slow Turkey´s EU membership bid (28.11.2006)
  Talks between European Union and Turkey over Cyprus fail (27.11.2006)
  PM Vanhanen says Cyprus dispute must be resolved in early December (21.11.2006)
  Turkey makes concession on Cyprus issue (7.12.2006)

Helsingin Sanomat