ANKARA (AP) – Turkey yesterday called on the European Union to clarify confusion over its bid for membership, after criticizing Germany for not inviting Turkey to the summit marking the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. “Make your decision. We either continue our road or not. We are both wasting time, energy and money otherwise,” Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in an apparent reference to Germany, which declined to invite Turkey to the summit held in Berlin over the weekend. Erdogan contended that Turkey will not be a “burden” on the EU but is ready to help shoulder some of the EU’s responsibilities.

NICOSIA (Reuters) – Cyprus’s Turkish community said yesterday a UN process to kick-start talks was on hold after a row with Greek Cypriots over the agenda, dashing hopes of quick progress on reuniting the divided Mediterranean island. The United Nations has unsuccessfully been trying since last July to bring the Cypriot sides to low-level negotiations, a mechanism they hoped would pave the way for fully fledged talks on unification. But after a burst of anger last week over a perceived Greek-Cypriot attempt to manipulate the process, the Turkish Cypriots said their participation in the talks would be reassessed.

A right-wing politician detained for questioning in connection with the killing of an ethnic Armenian journalist was released yesterday without charge. But police were still questioning three other members of the local branch of the conservative and nationalist Great Unity Party over the January 19 murder of journalist Hrant Dink. They were scheduled to appear in court today to face possible charges or be released from custody. (AP)

Romania’s foreign espionage agency acted legally when it tapped phone calls by foreign and Romanian suspects, a parliamentary commission said yesterday. The commission investigated allegations of improper tapping after the former head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Claudiu Saftoiu, revealed the agency tapped phones with permission from prosecutors, instead of a judge’s warrant as required by law. (AP)