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EU argues over Turkey's penalty EU 'partly suspends' Turkey talks
(about 1 hour later)
EU foreign ministers are locked in argument over how to penalise Turkey for barring Cypriot ships and planes from its ports and airports. EU foreign ministers have agreed in principle to partially suspend Turkey's membership talks because of its failure to open its ports to Cypriot traffic.
The European Commission has proposed that parts of Turkey's EU membership negotiations should be frozen. The decision would mean that some areas - or chapters - of the talks will be suspended, while others continue.
Some members want a hard line taken on Turkey, which does not recognise the Cypriot government - an EU member. Talks on Turkey's bid to join the EU began last year, after Ankara promised to allow Cypriot ships and aircraft to use its ports and airports.
But others are reluctant to open up a rift over the Cyprus question, which has dogged Turkey's EU accession talks. The EU has been divided on how harshly to punish Turkey for breaking its word.
Finland, the current holder of the EU's rotating presidency, has been trying to find ways of persuading Turkey to open its ports to Cypriot traffic in a first step towards recognition. Turkey has said it will not budge until the EU makes good on a promise to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community.
But Turkey has refused to do so without steps to start direct trade between the EU and the Turkish-controlled breakaway republic of northern Cyprus. Finland, the current holder of the EU's rotating presidency, has been trying to break the vicious circle.
After several hours of talks, Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot said he believed ministers would follow the European Commission's recommendation - that eight out of the 35 negotiating chapters be closed. It has sought to persuade Turkey to open its ports to Cypriot traffic, in return for launching direct trade between the Turkish Cypriot community and the EU.
"As far as I can see at the moment there is agreement on eight chapters," he said. The Polish Foreign Minister, Anna Fotyga, said discussions were still going on in Brussels on the question of the Turkish Cypriots' economic isolation.
Earlier, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier had said: "I personally don't expect that we will reach a conclusion today," href="/1/hi/world/europe/4107919.stm" class="">Q&A: Turkey-EU talks Britain, Spain and Sweden went into the meeting arguing that Turkey should not be penalised too harshly, while Austria, France and Cyprus wanted to take a hard line.
"The positions of the European member states - some of them at least - are still too far apart for that."
Britain, Spain and Sweden are believed not to want Turkey penalised too harshly, while Austria, France and Cyprus want to take a hard line.
Germany has been pushing the idea of a review clause, that would fix a time for the EU to discuss again whether Turkey has met its obligations.Germany has been pushing the idea of a review clause, that would fix a time for the EU to discuss again whether Turkey has met its obligations.
If the foreign ministers fail to reach agreement, it will be up to heads of state to try to resolve the problem at their summit on Thursday and Friday. EU heads of state will have the final word, at a summit on Thursday and Friday, regarding how to move forward with Turkey's membership talks.
Baggage of historyBaggage of history
The BBC's Jonny Dymond says that when it was decided that Cyprus could join the EU, the presumption amongst EU policy-makers was that it would join as a united island, and that the Turkish-sponsored breakaway north would be subsumed into some kind of confederal whole.The BBC's Jonny Dymond says that when it was decided that Cyprus could join the EU, the presumption amongst EU policy-makers was that it would join as a united island, and that the Turkish-sponsored breakaway north would be subsumed into some kind of confederal whole.
But, instead, the south rejected a reunification plan and joined the EU alone - and has subsequently used its veto power to block and delay negotiations with Turkey.But, instead, the south rejected a reunification plan and joined the EU alone - and has subsequently used its veto power to block and delay negotiations with Turkey.
Our correspondent says that partly because of the baggage of history and partly because it feels the north has not been rewarded for agreeing to the reunification plan, Turkey has not budged over recognising the south, and so one of the EU's most ambitious enlargement projects is now at risk.Our correspondent says that partly because of the baggage of history and partly because it feels the north has not been rewarded for agreeing to the reunification plan, Turkey has not budged over recognising the south, and so one of the EU's most ambitious enlargement projects is now at risk.
He adds that EU members that were never keen about taking on Turkey are only too happy to let Cyprus bring the project crashing down.He adds that EU members that were never keen about taking on Turkey are only too happy to let Cyprus bring the project crashing down.