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EU 'partly suspends' Turkey talks EU partially freezesTurkey talks
(about 1 hour later)
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. EU foreign ministers have agreed to slow down talks on Turkey's membership because of its failure to open its ports and airports to Cypriot traffic.
The decision would mean that some areas - or chapters - of the talks will be suspended, while others continue. The decision means that talks in eight policy areas will be suspended, while talks in other areas will continue.
However, none of the chapters will be signed off until Turkey complies.
Member states went into the talks divided on how harshly to penalise Turkey, with some keener than others to avoid a possible breakdown.
The BBC's Jonny Dymond in Brussels says that many Turks already believe that the EU is stringing them along, and that the mood is likely to become even more sour in the light of this decision.
It's important to send this double signal that on the one hand there should no train crash... but that there should be a slowdown Migel Angel MoratinosSpanish Foreign Minister Send us your comments The ministers agreed that talks should be suspended in areas touching on trade, transport, financial services and agriculture while continuing the rest of the 35 areas.
"It's important to send this double signal that on the one hand there should be no train crash... but that there should be a slowdown," said Spanish Foreign Minister Migel Angel Moratinos.
Vicious circle
The ministers are also reported to have agreed in principle on steps to end the economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community - but this part of the deal will apparently have to be confirmed in January.
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.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.
The EU has been divided on how harshly to punish Turkey for breaking its word. href="/1/hi/world/europe/4107919.stm" class="">Q&A: Turkey-EU talks But the Turkish authorities have not fufilled their promise, and have said they will not budge until the EU makes good on a promise to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community.
Turkey has said it will not budge until the EU makes good on a promise to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community. Finland, the current holder of the EU's rotating presidency, has been trying to break the vicious circle, by launching direct trade between the Turkish Cypriots and the EU.
Finland, the current holder of the EU's rotating presidency, has been trying to break the vicious circle. Our correspondent 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.
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.
The Polish Foreign Minister, Anna Fotyga, said discussions were still going on in Brussels on the question of the Turkish Cypriots' economic isolation.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.