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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Turkey 'will open up to Cyprus' | Turkey 'will open up to Cyprus' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The EU is studying an offer by Turkey to open one port and one airport to traffic from Cyprus, Finland says. | The EU is studying an offer by Turkey to open one port and one airport to traffic from Cyprus, Finland says. |
| The European Commission said the move, if confirmed, was "an important step" towards breaking the deadlock over Turkey's EU membership application. | The European Commission said the move, if confirmed, was "an important step" towards breaking the deadlock over Turkey's EU membership application. |
| There is no clear condition attached to the Turkish proposal, which was made verbally, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford reports from Istanbul. | There is no clear condition attached to the Turkish proposal, which was made verbally, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford reports from Istanbul. |
| EU foreign ministers are to discuss Turkey's troubled EU bid on Monday. | EU foreign ministers are to discuss Turkey's troubled EU bid on Monday. |
| Then the EU heads of government will have to decide at a summit on 14-15 December. | Then the EU heads of government will have to decide at a summit on 14-15 December. |
| Until now, Turkey has always insisted that the EU must first end the economic isolation of Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus. | Until now, Turkey has always insisted that the EU must first end the economic isolation of Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus. |
| The UK government, long an enthusiast for Turkish membership of the EU, described Turkey's new offer as significant and creative. | |
| Last week, the European Commission recommended freezing eight of the 35 chapters in Turkey's EU accession negotiations, because of a failure to make headway over Cyprus. | Last week, the European Commission recommended freezing eight of the 35 chapters in Turkey's EU accession negotiations, because of a failure to make headway over Cyprus. |
| 'Two-way deal' | 'Two-way deal' |
| Finland, the current EU president, said Turkey made the new approach on Wednesday. | Finland, the current EU president, said Turkey made the new approach on Wednesday. |
| Europe diary: Cyprus split | Europe diary: Cyprus split |
| A Finnish spokesman said it was not clear whether the offer met the EU's demands, and that details, like which port and airport were involved, or when they might be opened, were still to be defined. | A Finnish spokesman said it was not clear whether the offer met the EU's demands, and that details, like which port and airport were involved, or when they might be opened, were still to be defined. |
| Turkey has been urging the EU to end the isolation of northern Cyprus by allowing trade through Ercan airport and the port of Famagusta. | Turkey has been urging the EU to end the isolation of northern Cyprus by allowing trade through Ercan airport and the port of Famagusta. |
| A Turkish foreign ministry source was quoted by Reuters as saying: "This is a two-way deal. We would require the same number of airports and ports to be opened on each side." | A Turkish foreign ministry source was quoted by Reuters as saying: "This is a two-way deal. We would require the same number of airports and ports to be opened on each side." |
| Cyprus will not agree to Ercan airport being opened to international flights as part of a compromise deal, Cypriot government spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardis told Reuters on Thursday. | Cyprus will not agree to Ercan airport being opened to international flights as part of a compromise deal, Cypriot government spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardis told Reuters on Thursday. |
| Currently the only flights to northern Cyprus are routed via Turkey. | Currently the only flights to northern Cyprus are routed via Turkey. |
| 'Positive influence' | 'Positive influence' |
| Finland, during its EU presidency, has been trying to break the deadlock over Cyprus, in order to keep Turkey's talks on track. | Finland, during its EU presidency, has been trying to break the deadlock over Cyprus, in order to keep Turkey's talks on track. |
| It has proposed that the first step towards Turkish recognition of Cyprus should be the opening of Turkish ports to Cypriot traffic, with the EU simultaneously allowing trade through northern Cyprus. | It has proposed that the first step towards Turkish recognition of Cyprus should be the opening of Turkish ports to Cypriot traffic, with the EU simultaneously allowing trade through northern Cyprus. |
| A European Commission spokeswoman said on Thursday it "considers that the Turkish initiative, if confirmed, is an important step towards the full implementation of the Ankara protocol". The protocol covers trade between Turkey and the EU's new members, including Cyprus. | A European Commission spokeswoman said on Thursday it "considers that the Turkish initiative, if confirmed, is an important step towards the full implementation of the Ankara protocol". The protocol covers trade between Turkey and the EU's new members, including Cyprus. |
| "This should have a positive influence on the discussion concerning the management of the continuation of the accession negotiation with Turkey." | "This should have a positive influence on the discussion concerning the management of the continuation of the accession negotiation with Turkey." |