Brussels, 30/08/2005 (Agence Europe) - France has called on Turkey to allow Cyprus access to its ports and airports, in order to "clarify its position". Further to declarations by President Chirac, the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, Philippe Douste-Blazy, stated on Tuesday that "this request is quite legitimate; it is made in a spirit of responsibility, because France has no wish to open up a new crisis in Europe". He feels that this measure is necessary in order for Ankara to come in line with its commitment to extend customs union to the new Member States. When this agreement was signed, Turkey stressed that it would not open up access to its ports and airports for Cyprus because it considered that this came under the heading of services rather than of trade (EUROPE 9002). Addressing the French ambassadors, Mr Douste-Bazy stated that "in recent months, the reactions of opinion to the prospect of this accession have been plain for all to see".