EU member states are split over how to respond to Turkey’s offer to open some trade links with Cyprus.

Ankara attempted to salvage its EU entry bid on Wednesday with a package designed to persuade Brussels not to freeze accession talks.  But the verbal offer to open one port and one airport to Cyprus is set to divide EU foreign insisters when they meet for crucial talks on the issue on Monday. In a message to the Finnish EU presidency in Helsinki, Ankara said the port of Famagusta in Northern Cyprus would be opened for “direct trade” for one year.  Turkey also proposed allowing international flights to land at Ercan in the Turkish occupied north of Cyprus for the same period.

The Finnish EU presidency rejected the offer on Thursday. It was also attacked by both Greece and Cyprus. "This is not a solution," Finnish foreign minister Erkki Tuomioja told reporters.  "We are taking note of an opening from the Turkish side which is a positive indication." The Greek Cypriot foreign minister said the offer “makes a mockery of the EU since it lacks any serious content.” But Turkey’s EU allies in London gave the proposals a cautious welcome.

By including some aspects of the Finnish compromise proposal on solving the Turkey issue, Ankara has been able to drum up support in some European quarters.  However, plans for a revival of UN talks on Cyprus and opening Ercan to international flights go too far for Greece and Cyprus.