ANKARA, Jan. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday that Turkey has proposed to the United Nations an action plan in a bid to help reunite the divided island of Cyprus.

    Gul told a press conference that "the absence of a settlement in Cyprus is contrary to the interests of both peoples on the island."

    "Our priority is finding a lasting, just and comprehensive settlement which will pave the way for the reunification of the island," he said.

    According to the plan, Turkish airports and ports will be opened to Greek Cypriot vessels and planes, and the northern Cyprus ports will also be opened to international commerce.

    Northern Cyprus should be included as an economic entity into the European Union's customs union, and unhindered direct trade between both sides of the island be ensured.

    Turkey also proposed to hold a high-level UN-sponsored meeting, grouping Turkey, Greece, the Turkish Cypriot north and the Greek Cypriot south, to finalize the plan and its implementation.

    Cyprus has been divided along the ethnic line to the Greek Cypriot south and Turkish Cypriot north since 1974, when Turkey sent troops to take control of the northern third of the island to foil a coup engineered by Greek Cypriots seeking union with Greece.

    The latest UN-led efforts to reunite the island failed in April2004, when Greek Cypriots rejected in a referendum a UN reunification plan, which was approved by the Turkish Cypriot north.

    After that, the Greek Cypriot south became a European Union member representing the whole island, leaving the Turkish north, which is only recognized by Ankara, outside. Enditem