Brussels, 06/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - British Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford said at a meeting organised by the Turkish Cypriot Forum for Europe that the European Union should offer Cyprus confidence-building measures to facilitate the Denktash-Clerides talks. Baroness Ludford proposes a plan consisting in "six practical measures": - Turkish Cypriot agreement to the opening of a European Commission Office in North Cyprus: - direct invitation by the EU (rather than by the Government of Nicosia) for Turkish Cypriot representatives to take part on an equal footing in accession talks (the island's team to be called simply 'Cyprus', says the MEP); - Greek Cypriot and EU explicit acknowledgement of the principle of "political equality" rather than minority status for Turkish Cypriots; - recognition of the EU as guarantor of a political settlement and that any future security arrangements must incorporate Turkey"; - explicit discussions (in place of hints) of possible temporary derogations from the EU 'acquis' of freedom of settlement and property rights. "I anticipate a barrage of objections. But the status-quo is not an option. We must be imaginative in order to progress, and the EU should take the lead", remarks Sarah Ludford in a press release.