EU Pushes Turkey on Opening Ports to Cyprus

If Turkey wants to become an EU member it must open its ports to Cyprus, said EU enlargement commissioner Ollie Rehn today as he presented the EU's annual report on Turkey's membership progress.

Although the country's recent high-profile rapprochement with Armenia is a 'historic milestone' the EU would see Turkey's opening of its ports to EU members including Cyprus, as a 'confidence-building measure.'

"I appeal to both Turkey and the leaders of the two communities on the island that everybody should now engage in confidence-building measures, rather than starting any kind of a blame game," said Rehn.

Meanwhile, after today's face-to-face negotiations, Cyprus president Demetris Christofias said that 'there is hope for progress on the issue of executive power'.

"We have tabled our own revised proposal which does not change the substance of our proposal. There was a reaction and we will analyse both our positions tomorrow`` said Mr. Christofias.

Special Representative of the Secretary-General Tayé-Brook Zerihoun said "the atmosphere was good. They will continue their discussions tomorrow and hopefully move ahead on these issues. Tomorrow, the much awaited planting of the olive trees will take place. There will also be another event: bicommunal civil society representatives will be here to express solidarity and support for the process and for the leaders and the negotiators."