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| Europe |
| Cyprus keeps options open over EU-Turkey talks |
| 2006-06-11 |
| NICOSIA - Cyprus said on Saturday it was keeping its options open on whether it would agree or not to allow European Union membership negotiations with Turkey to proceed. On Friday, EU ambassadors failed to reach agreement on starting detailed entry talks with Turkey next week because of discord centred on Cyprus. EU foreign ministers will now tackle the thorny issue on Monday, hours before the planned start of negotiations in Luxembourg. However, Nicosia is keeping its cards close it chest over the possible use of its veto option. Official Cypriot government policy is that it wants Turkey to join the 25-member bloc but only if Ankara meets all EU criteria, including an obligation to normalise relations with Cyprus. The ambassadors had hoped to clear the way for the talks to start eight months after a landmark EU accord to launch Ankara on the path to eventual EU membership, despite public skepticism. But, apparently, Cyprus refused to agree as long as Turkey refused formally to recognize it and fully implement the so-called Ankara protocol. Cypriot Foreign Minister George Iacovou said Europe would be sending the “wrong message” if Turkey were allowed to close a chapter when it had not honoured a customs protocol, signed last year, to allow Cyprus ships and aircraft to enter Turkey. |
| Posted by:Steve White |