Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, sounding out prospects for resuming the talks, said the deadlock in the European Union member “serves no one”.
Diplomats fear a crisis over Cyprus could also blight Turkey’s hopes of joining the EU.
On Tuesday, Turkey proposed reviving the peace process under UN auspices, suggesting a four-way meeting of officials from Turkey, Greece, and the two Cypriot communities.
Turkey suggested meeting no later than May or June this year to endorse a plan to open up Turkish ports and airports to Greek Cypriot ships and planes in return for the lifting of trade and other restrictions against the Turkish Cypriots.
Mr. Straw. Whose news conference was held in the UN buffer zone, said the current situation was “bad for Cyprus, bad for the eastern Mediterranean and bad for EU”.
He said: “The Turkish initiative deserves to be taken seriously. We have got to make progress on lifting the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. This is a separate track, but it is in all our interests to bring Turkish Cypriots closer to EU.”
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül added: “If the Greek Cypriots block, they block the interests of the EU.”
“We are being sincere. We are trying to find a solution. No one can blame us… I am optimistic because I believe the EU is feeling the pressure that they have not lived up to their promises.”
But the initiative was given a cool reception by Greek Cypriots, who said it was an attempt by Turkey to duck its EU obligation in opening up the ports and airports by imposing conditions.
Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos’s government expects a string of concessions from Turkey if the EU entry negotiations started last year are to progress.
Indicating the chill in relations, Mr. Straw was snubbed by Mr. Papadopoulos over his decision to also visit Turkish Cypriot leader.
But Gül said he was still upbeat about the new proposal. “If this can build confidence on both sides then it can lead to a comprehensive solution,” he said. |
