EU Mulls Turkish Offer

The surprise offer comes a week after the European Commission -- the EU's executive arm -- called for a partial freeze in Turkey's membership talks following its refusal to allow Greek Cypriot ships and aircraft access to its territory.

The commission said the EU should suspend eight negotiating areas out of 35 so-called chapters under discussion with Ankara.

Several EU ministers have described the Turkish initiative as significant and positive, but diplomats in Brussels told the German dpa news agency that governments were still seeking to clarify several elements of the proposal.

They were also anxious to see the Turkish proposal in writing before EU foreign ministers -- and then EU leaders -- discuss it at meetings in Brussels next week.

Still no official offer on the table

So far, however, Ankara appears to have communicated its offer only orally to Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, whose country holds the current EU presidency.

EU sources say Turkey has indicated an intention to provisionally open a major sea port to Cypriot vessels for a year, pending the completion of United Nations negotiations in late 2007 on the reunification of Cyprus.

Ankara has also said it is willing to open one airport to Greek Cypriot flights.

Turkey has added, however, that "it looks forward" to EU moves to end the economic isolation of Turkish Cyprus by allowing international trade with the North via the port of Famagusta and Ercan airport.

"It is still not clear, however, if the Turkish move to open up to Greek Cypriot traffic is an unconditional offer or if it is linked to a parallel move by the EU on northern Cyprus," an EU diplomat told dpa. "The key will be how these different actions are sequenced."

Turkey wants trade boycott lifted

The EU has argued that Ankara's refusal to allow Greek Cypriot traffic on its territory violates its legal obligation to treat all EU states equally.

But Turkey, which does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus -- an EU member since 2004 -- has argued that the EU must first end its trade boycott of northern Turkish Cyprus.

The last-minute Turkish offer puts additional pressure on EU governments, which remain deeply divided on whether to partially suspend negotiations with Ankara or continue the talks.

Germany and France have taken a tough line, but Britain, backed by Spain, Italy, Sweden and several EU newcomers, including Poland, favor Turkish accession.

Germany wants accession talk "review clause"

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said in recent weeks that the commission must provide a special Turkey progress report by 2009 before any decision is taken on restarting talks.

Merkel, backed by French President Jacques Chirac, has also suggested the introduction of a "review clause" on Turkey so that there is no automatic resumption of accession talks. Instead this would have to be approved unanimously by all EU states.

The Greek and Cypriot governments are also taking a tough line on the issue.

Given the divergences, the issue is expected to dominate a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on Dec. 14-15.