No progress on Turkey

EU fails to make headway on conditions as Erdogan vents anger

Fishermen cruise the Golden Horn with the mosques of Istanbul’s Old City in the background, yesterday. European Union ambassadors failed yesterday to find a breakthrough on a joint negotiating position for Turkey’s membership talks and could not agree on a common response to Ankara’s refusal to recognize EU member Cyprus.

By Constant Brand - The Associated Press

BRUSSELS - European Union ambassadors failed to find a breakthrough yesterday on a joint negotiating position for Turkey’s membership talks and could not agree on a common response to Ankara’s refusal to recognize EU member Cyprus.

A British diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks, said there was “not yet consensus” on the issue, but added that “the differences were being narrowed.”

Cyprus continued to demand a strong EU rebuttal to Turkey.

Britain and France narrowed their differences and presented a joint draft declaration which said the member states “regret that Turkey felt it necessary to make a declaration” in July noting its refusal to recognize the government in Nicosia.

It warned that if Turkey did not allow Cypriot ships or planes “full” access, negotiations could be halted on all transport-related issues.

The draft added that “prior recognition of all member states is a necessary component of accession. Accordingly, the EU underlines the importance it attaches to the normalization of relations between Turkey and all EU member states, as soon as possible.”

Cyprus is demanding that Turkey recognize its government and wants a specific deadline for recognition during the entry talks. Britain, which holds the EU presidency, was trying to get a deal on the joint position before the planned opening of membership negotiations with Turkey on October 3.

[The Anatolia news agency yesterday reported that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused the European Union of “rude” diplomatic conduct for placing new conditions on its bid to become a member of the EU.

“And now, after everything we have done, they are still asking whether accession talks should begin or not,” Erdogan told the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. “To raise certain questions that have no pertinence is not worthy of international diplomatic ethics. It is rude.”]

Turkish-Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat said he sent a letter to British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw before yesterday’s meeting saying that instead of pushing Turkey to recognize Cyprus, the EU should be pressuring the Cypriots to find a solution.

“Putting pressure on Turkey like this means emboldening the Greek Cypriots, who have proven they don’t want a solution, to continue their non-solution-seeking policies,” Talat said. “We’ve suggested that for a solution to the Cyprus problem... there be encouragement of a solution from the Greek-Cypriot side, especially since it’s an EU member and is sitting there at the table.”

Diplomats said the 25 ambassadors would likely meet again later this week and the issue could lead to emergency talks by EU foreign ministers.

France, Austria and Cyprus have expressed reservations over talks with Turkey. France and Cyprus have demanded Turkey recognize the Mediterranean island.

Austria is pushing for the EU’s proposed negotiating mandate to contain a clarification that the outcome of talks should include a lesser option of a “partnership” between Ankara and the EU.

ANKARA (AFP) - Turkey will sign a protocol to a United Nations treaty on the prevention of torture during the UN summit in New York this week, the Foreign Ministry announced yesterday.

The move comes as Turkey prepares to open membership talks with the EU on October 3 after undertaking a series of democracy reforms.

The Foreign Ministry said the signing of the Optional Protocol to the December 2002 UN Convention Against Torture would mark a further step in Ankara's policy of «zero tolerance to torture and ill treatment.»

The document, which allows for surprise inspection visits to police stations and prisons and foresees inspectors recommending measures to prevent torture, will take effect once it is ratified by 20 countries.