EU brokers Cyprus-Turkey crisis talks

The Finnish EU presidency and European commission are seeking to hold crisis talks with Turkish and Cypriot foreign ministers in Helsinki this weekend.

Turkish Cypriot officials will also be at talks aimed at preventing a and preventing a Greece and Cyprus vetoes to Turkey’s EU membership bid at a summit of Europe’s leaders this December.

Officials are attempting to find a face-saving compromise deal over Ankara’s refusal to implement customs rules, a precondition of EU entry, opening Turkish ports to Cypriot ships.

The crunch talks will end just 48 hours before a commission report on Turkish progress to make good on EU membership requirements.

Greece and Cyprus will lead moves to halt Turkey’s two-year old EU entry negotiations unless Ankara toes the line.

A possible compromise linking the ports issue to international trade recognition for Turkish northern Cyprus remain under wraps.

The row is a bitter legacy of a 2004, Greek Cypriot rejection of a UN plan to reunite the divided island – a development that occurred after Nicosia’s EU membership had been confirmed.

Turkish Cypriots backed the reunification deal but remain subject to international sanctions dating back to the Cyprus conflict in 1974.

EU efforts to ease the isolation of Turkish Cypriots has been blocked by Cyprus – even before the ports issue flared up.

Media reports indicate that the Turkish Cypriot seaport of Famagusta will be opened to free trade under EU supervision.

In return, Varosha, in the Turkish northern half of Cyprus, will be handed back to the Greek Cypriot southern half of the island.

Varosha was seized when Turkey invaded northern Cyprus 32 years ago following an attempted Greek Cypriot union with Greece.

“A few days ago the Finnish presidency expressed some ideas and thoughts for consultations in Helsinki to discuss its initiative,” said a Cypriot government spokesman.

“A necessary condition for the success of the specific Finnish effort is the return of Varosha to its rightful owners.”

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