Nicosia gets ready for EU-Ankara showdown
The British presidency of the EU is expected to present a new draft statement to EU diplomats today criticizing Turkey’s non-recognition of Cyprus after Nicosia yesterday issued the strongest suggestion yet that it would dig in its heels over the issue and possibly block entry talks. After three failed attempts, representatives of the 25 EU member states will gather again in Brussels to examine the text due to be put forward by Britain to the Council of Permanent Representatives. Previous versions have failed to gain the necessary approval, largely because Athens and Nicosia, specifically, have felt they were far too soft on Turkey. There was no indication yesterday that Cyprus was willing to make any compromises. Cypriot government spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said that failure to reach an agreement on the counter-declaration before October 3, when Turkey is due to start membership talks, «naturally means that accession negotiations will not start as planned.» Chrysostomides also appeared unruffled by reports that France, one of Nicosia’s strongest allies in the negotiations, had reached a deal with Britain over the content of the statement.
