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Key EU members back opening Ercan Airport Leading European Union member countries support opening Ercan Airport to international flights as a "carrot" for a compromise on Cyprus, said EU enlargement chief Olli Rehn during a visit to Turkey last week.
During a three-day visit to Ankara, Mr Rehn discussed ways to avoid a possible Cyprus crisis later this year, reviewed Turkey's EU reform process and urged Ankara to step up the reform process in order to dispel doubts among Turkey-sceptics in the EU.
European Commission sources told Turkey's English language newspaper, The New Anatolian, that on Cyprus, Mr Rehn had underlined to top Turkish diplomats that it was their country's obligation to open its ports and harbours to Greek cypriots, but also that the EU would work to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.
Emphasising the will of major EU powers to avoid a crisis later this year in Turkey's EU accession process, Mr Rehn said the Finnish proposals should be taken seriously. "Turkey has to be flexible and constructive. We can reach a compromise. Whatever you do, don't be the first party to turn down the Finnish proposals," Turkish diplomatic sources reported him as saying.
According to diplomats, Turkey's view is that, for such a package to be meaningful, it should not be limited to opening of sea ports to international trade, but also include opening of Ercan to international flights.
EU sources said Mr Rehn had indicated that some major EU powers had already expressed support for opening Ercan as part of the deal, and said this should be taken seriously.
