The stand off between Turkey and Cyprus – where Greek Cypriot vessels are banned from Turkish ports while Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus only has links with the Turkish mainland – could be resolved through a ‘Taiwanese’ solution.
Egemen Bagis, the Turkish EU minister, told the Reuters news agency: "The minute a British Airways, an Air France, a KLM, a Lufthansa plane lands at Ercan airport (in northern Cyprus), Turkey is ready to open all of her airports, sea ports and air space to Greek Cypriot planes and vessels."
The minister added that a resumption of trade relations would not imply politcal recognition.
"This would be like the Taiwanese model – a trade relationship," he said.
UN talks on finding a solution to the long-standing stalemate have restarted in New York. The port ban is also putting a drag on Turkish state's own EU ambitions.
The conflict has its roots in 1974 when the East Mediterranean island was effectively divided between aTurkish Cypriot-dominated north and Greek Cypriot-controlled south.
