European Commission (EC) President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso said on Thursday that Turkey's plan to open some of its ports to Cyprus would be "an important step" towards meeting the country's pledges to the European Union (EU).

Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Barroso said "If that move can be confirmed I think it is certainly an important step towards full implementation of the Ankara protocol, and against that background I certainly welcome it," he said.

He said the EU executive was still seeking clarification of the Turkish proposal.

Finnish media reported earlier on Thursday that Turkey was planning to open a port and an airport to traffic from Cyprus, in an effort to break the deadlock in negotiations on its entry to the EU.

Source: Xinhua