EU in Turkey standoff

UK pushes Ankara’s case in face of Austrian objections; Solana ‘positive’

Turkish citizens make nationalist gestures during an anti-EU rally in Ankara yesterday which attracted some 60,000 protesters.

By Michael Thurston - Agence France-Presse

LUXEMBOURG - The European Union yesterday launched a last-ditch bid to break a deadlock threatening landmark negotiations with Turkey, but admitted “considerable difficulties” remained in resolving the standoff.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, arriving for 11th-hour emergency talks, warned that the 25-member bloc stands at a key moment in its history as it prepares to start membership talks with the vast mainly Muslim country.

“This is a crucial meeting for the future of the European Union,” he said, underlining that failure to start the talks “would represent a failure for the European Union.”

Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana voiced optimism that EU foreign ministers would shortly resolve a standoff threatening the opening of membership talks with Turkey. “I am very concerned but I think we will find a deal tonight,” he said.

The Luxembourg talks — coming just hours before today’s scheduled negotiations with Ankara — focus on Austrian demands that the EU consider something less than full membership for the vast mainly Muslim state.

Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, who held bilateral talks with Straw before the full EU meeting, sought to sound upbeat when asked if an agreement was possible.

“I hope so. We will listen to each other, come toward each other, in good European spirit,” she said.

A row remains over the negotiating framework for accession talks with Turkey. The current draft — accepted by all 24 other EU states — says that EU entry is the main aim of the talks. Vienna would like that replaced, or at least complemented, by an offer of a lesser “privileged partnership.”

Britain’s Straw, whose country has long been a staunch supporter of Ankara’s EU hopes, underscored the geopolitical significance of offering Turkey membership in the rich European club. “We need to see Turkey in the European Union and not pushed the other way,” he said.

Turkish leaders have warned they may yet not turn up in Luxembourg today if they are not satisfied with what is on offer.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan echoed the comments of Britain’s Straw, warning the EU against being a “Christian club” by refusing to start the talks.

“Either the EU will decide to become a world force and a world player... or it will limit itself to a Christian club,” he said.

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul warned that Turkey was unlikely to reopen membership negotiations if official entry talks did not begin as scheduled. “I cannot see them happening again,” he said in an interview with the Yeni Safak newspaper.

“We will all need to sit down and think about this,” Gul said. He reiterated that Turkey was not prepared to “begin negotiations whatever the price.”

Meanwhile, former French president Valery Giscard d’Estaing — architect of the EU Constitution — reiterated his opposition to Turkey’s bid and said most French people agreed, as do most Europeans, according to polls.

“The question is whether Turkey is or is not a European country. History and geography say no,” he told a French newspaper.