EU hits new Turkey-Cyprus trouble

Accession talks can only begin once the declaration has been approved

Ministers from EU member states have failed to approve a declaration that would allow talks on Turkish accession to begin next month.

The text agreed by diplomats on Monday was pulled from the agenda of ministers meeting in Brussels at Cyprus' request.

It says Turkey must formally recognise Cyprus before joining the EU.

Diplomats quoted by Reuters said Cyprus did not object to the text itself but was delaying approval until agreement on a negotiating mandate for the talks.

Both the declaration and the negotiating mandate must be settled before the talks can begin on 3 October.

THE DRAFT DEAL No fixed deadline for recognition of Cyprus Customs union must be implemented in full Ambassadors to continue talks on negotiating mandate Talks to start on time on 3 October

It is a response to a statement by Turkey in July, refusing to recognise Cyprus, despite the extension of its customs union with the EU to all new member states.

This date was agreed by the EU last December, and any delay would be a serious embarrassment.

Cyprus muddies water

On Monday, EU ambassadors agreed a draft declaration which said: "Recognition of all member states is a necessary component of the accession process."

We have no illusions that Turkey will recognise us as soon as possible, but the rejoinder does contain a provision that this will be reviewed in 2006 Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos

It also stressed the importance of the "normalisation of relations between Turkey and all EU member states, as soon as possible".

Nicosia had reportedly been lobbying for Turkey to be given a specific deadline to recognise Cyprus, but on Monday apparently withdrew this demand.

However, Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos muddied the waters on Tuesday saying that the EU declaration called for a review of the question of Turkish recognition of Cyprus in 2006.

He also said the UK was attempting to link recognition with an agreement to end the island's division, as Turkey has demanded.

Privileged partnership

Discussions on the negotiating framework are expected to focus on Austria's view that it should leave open the possibility of offering Turkey a "privileged partnership" instead of full membership.

Earlier agreements have made it clear that the goal of the talks would be full membership.

France also wants safeguards to ensure that Turkey will not be admitted until the EU is fully ready to absorb such a large, relatively poor country.

"There are now discussions taking place on other aspects of the negotiating framework, principally on this issue about absorption capacity and privileged partnership," said UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, speaking in New York.

A number of EU countries are cool towards the idea of Turkey joining the EU.

However, the failure of Germany's Christian Democrats to win a clear victory in Sunday's general election makes it less likely that the new government in Berlin will strongly oppose Turkish membership.

Cyprus has been split since Turkey invaded in 1974 in the wake of an abortive coup by supporters of union with Greece.

A UN peace plan was approved by Turkish Cypriots in a referendum in 2004, but rejected in a parallel vote in the Greek Cypriot south.