Turkish Offer Stir Political Agenda on Cyprus

"What Turkey has said is not enough." said Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen.

Turkish Foreign Ministry replied with a cautious optimism saying, "Turkey is prepared take further steps but expects a similar attitude from other parties".

Vanhanen: Turkey must open all ports

Turkey has offered to open a major port to traffic from Southern Cyprus. Turkey, which controls Northern Cyprus, is trying to reinvigorate its EU membership bid.

Vanhanen said Turkey must open its ports to all member states equally:

"Each country must comply with the EU criteria and hold its promises" said Vanhanen adding that the reform process which led to the beginning of accession negotiations with Turkey must regain its pace.

On the other hand, newspaper headlines in the southern part of the divided island unanimously say that the offer is "unacceptable".

EU summit next week

Mr. Vanhanen said the Turkish move was a positive signal, but did not fulfill Turkey's customs obligations. Ankara refuses to recognize the government of Greek-speaking Cyprus.

Then the EU heads of government will have to decide at a summit on 14-15 December.

"The Union has certain conditions and they must all be fulfilled," said Mr Vanhanen. "Turkey cannot become a member until all the open questions are resolved."

Until now, Turkey has always insisted that the EU must first end the economic isolation of Turkish-controlled northern 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.

Turkey has been urging the EU to end the isolation of northern Cyprus by allowing trade through Ercan airport and the port of Famagusta.

Currently the only flights to northern Cyprus are routed via Turkey.

Army reaction to government bid

The Turkish offer - made verbally earlier this week - has provoked controversy within Turkey, where chief commander of armed forces General Yasar Buyukanit, complained that the army had not been consulted.

Turkey has 40 thousand troops in Northern Cyprus.

Gen Buyukanit described the offer as a departure from the official line and said he had first heard about it on television.(EU)

* This article is summoned from BBC and ntvmsnbc.