European Union diplomats hammered out a new accord on Turkey on Wednesday, overcoming last-minute objections from Cyprus, but the bloc is still battling to clear the way for membership talks with Ankara next month.
While progress was made, clear strains remained over whether the vast Muslim state — hoping to start EU talks on October 3 — can ever join the bloc, with Austria notably demanding that Turkey be offered an alternative to EU entry.
The British EU presidency sounded upbeat after the latest session of talks among EU ambassadors, which came a day after attempts to have EU ministers formally agree a joint declaration failed due to objections from Nicosia.
A British official said the senior diplomats — who initially agreed the draft declaration on Monday — reached a new accord which would be formally approved by a special EU procedure later in the day.
But there was no breakthrough on a ”negotiating framework” setting out the principles and logistics of the talks, with notably Austria pushing for Turkey to be offered an alternative such as a ”privileged partnership.”
British officials said progress was made.
”Several key delegations have lifted all their reserves on the negotiating framework,” said one, adding: ”The negotiating framework is being discussed.”
But other diplomats underlined that the issue will have to be discussed again next week, adding that in the meantime bilateral discussions will continue ”notably between London and Vienna”.
”Several points remain to be discussed with Austria, notably the language on the aim of the negotiations,” said one EU official.
Britain rebuffed pressure to hold a special ministerial meeting next week.
”Britain told the EU ambassadors that there would not be a meeting of ministers on September 26,” said a European diplomat.
EU leaders agreed in December to start membership talks with the vast Muslim country on October 3, despite its refusal to recognise the government of Cyprus, which joined the EU in May last year.
But tensions mounted in July when, while signing a protocol extending a customs accord with the EU to the bloc’s 10 newest states, Turkey declared this did not amount to a recognition of Nicosia.
The island of Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Ankara invaded the northern part to protect the Turkish Cypriot population following a pro-Greek coup.
Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos said on Tuesday that the diplomatic blockage was purely ”procedural,” adding that Nicosia was happy with the accord on how to respond to Turkey’s continued refusal to recognize his government.
But the Cypriot leader also accused Britain of overtly backing the Turkish position even though Nicosia said it had majority support for its stance.
”From the start the British presidency, we think, did not meet its obligations as presiding country, but on the contrary, promoted its own positions while disregarding the wishes of all member states.”
In the draft ”counter-declaration” initially finalised on Monday, the EU demands that Ankara recognise the Cypriot government at some point before it actually joins the bloc, a step unlikely for at least a decade.
”Recognition of all member states is a necessary component of the accession process,” it said.
It also warns that failure by Turkey to fully implement the customs accord — notably by letting Cypriot ships and planes use its ports and airports — would slow the pace of talks.
”Failure to implement its obligations in full will affect the overall progress in the negotiations,” said the draft. – AFP
