Austria suggests EU-Turkey pause if no Cyprus deal

BRUSSELS, Nov 13 (Reuters) Austria proposed today a ''time-out'' in accession negotiations between the European Union and Turkey if there was no progress in solving Ankara's stand-off with Cyprus by a December EU summit.

''If there is no important move from here until December, it might be wise to agree on a time-out to reduce tensions,'' Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, whose country has been among those most sceptical about Turkey's entry aspirations, told reporters before an EU meeting in Brussels.

She did not say how long such a pause should last.

The European Commission last week gave Turkey until a December.

14-15 summit to open its ports to Cypriot shipping or face unspecified repercussions for its 13-month-old entry talks. Some diplomats say a freeze of negotiations with Ankara on some reform areas was a possible outcome.

REUTERS PDM PM1506