EU hopes to open 4 more chapters with Turkey

European Union president Spain hopes to open accession talks with Turkey in four new policy areas in the next six months, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said on Friday.

He said Spain, which holds the presidency until the end of June, was hoping for progress in Cyprus issue.

He also said there was a chance of progress in talks between Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

"Both (sides) are aware of the risk of failure. We hope there will be success and that we can open some negotiating chapters," he told reporters in Madrid.

"We have four in mind. We hope we can open them during our presidency." He did not say which chapters he had in mind.

Turkey has opened 12 chapters out of 35 since starting talks in 2005.

Negotiations are still suspended in eight areas that were frozen by the EU in 2006 because of Turkey's policy not to open its ports and airports to Greek Cyprus.

Ankara says it will open up to traffic from the Greek Cypriot part of Cyprus if the EU ends the embargo of the Turkish Cypriot north of the island as promised.

/World Bulletin/