German Chancellor Angela Merkel is trying to set Turkey a deadline to solve its issue with Cyprus before the EU could consider whether to resume membership talks with Turkey, a government spokesman said Monday.

Merkel suggested that Turkey should be given an 18-month deadline to open its ports to Cyprus, deputy government spokesman Thomas Steg said.

The proposal, which was described by Merkel as "an appropriate and sensible instrument," would be discussed by Merkel and French President Jacques Chirac when they meet in Mettlach in western Germany on Tuesday, said Steg.

Merkel and Chirac are meeting on Tuesday for their customary two-monthly informal talks, which will be followed by a three-way summit with Polish President Lech Kaczynski.

The leaders will discuss issues relating to the "further development of Europe, including how we should now negotiate further with Turkey," said Steg.

Last week, the European Commission (EC) suggested partially freezing Turkey's membership talks as Ankara still refused to open its ports to EU member Cyprus, which Ankara does not recognize.

EU foreign ministers are expected to agree on the EC's proposal when they meet in Brussels on Dec. 11.

Source: Xinhua