The Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) of the European Union (EU) member countries in Brussels would continue on Friday to discuss Turkey's plan to open some of its ports to the Republic of Cyprus.

The proposal was debated in Thursday's meeting of COREPER, and Eikka Kosonen, the representative of Finland, which currently holds the rotating EU Presidency, briefed his colleagues on Turkey 's proposals, according to Turkey's semi-official Anatolia news agency.

Anatolia quoted diplomatic sources as saying that they were expecting Turkey to clarify whether the opening of Famagusta seaport and Ercan airport, in the breakaway "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," which is recognized only by Ankara, to international traffic and trade is a precondition in its proposal to the EU.

The sources added that they would consult the issue with the executives of their countries and re-discuss the matter on Friday.

Earlier on Thursday, Finland informed the EU-member countries that Turkey has proposed opening one seaport and one airport to traffic of Cyprus, a EU member, in an effort to break the deadlock in its EU accession negotiations.

The initiative envisages opening one port and one airport in Turkey to the Greek Cypriot traffic, and Turkey also expects the opening of Ercan airport and Famagusta seaport, both in Turkish- controlled northern Cyprus, to international trade in 2007, Anatolia said.

Turkey's proposal also asks the EU members to call on the leaders in both sides of Cyprus to start working to find a comprehensive solution to the 32-year division of the island in 2007.

Last week, the European Commission (EC) recommended to suspend eight out of 35 policy areas or "chapters" in Turkey's EU accession negotiations as Ankara refused to open its ports to traffic from Greek Cypriots, which is not recognized by Ankara.

EU foreign ministers are expected to discuss the situation at a meeting on Dec. 11 in Brussels, and a final decision is to be made on whether to suspend talks with Ankara on key policy chapters at the EU summit slated for Dec. 14-15.

Turkey has been defying repeated EU demands to open its ports to Cyprus, insisting that the international community must first move to ease the isolation imposed on the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus."

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey militarily intervened and occupied the north of Cyprus following a coup by a group of Greek officers.

The internationally-recognized Republic of Cyprus entered the EU in 2004 in the name of the whole island.

The EU has said that Turkey, with which it began membership talks in October last year, must open its ports and airports to traffic from Cyprus this year under the additional protocol, otherwise it would end the accession talks with Turkey.

Source: Xinhua