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Turkish PM seeks Blair's support Turkish PM seeks Blair's support
(about 6 hours later)
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has met his UK counterpart in London, a year to the day since talks about Turkey joining the EU opened.Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has met his UK counterpart in London, a year to the day since talks about Turkey joining the EU opened.
Prime Minister Tony Blair's government has been a staunch supporter of Turkish membership of the union.Prime Minister Tony Blair's government has been a staunch supporter of Turkish membership of the union.
It played a major role in forging a last-minute deal as the then EU president to initiate the talks.It played a major role in forging a last-minute deal as the then EU president to initiate the talks.
However, the discussions are running into difficulties, mainly over Turkey's stance on the divided island of Cyprus.However, the discussions are running into difficulties, mainly over Turkey's stance on the divided island of Cyprus.
EU officials now warn there is a real danger that the whole process will grind to a halt unless Turkey opens its ports and airports to Cyprus traffic.EU officials now warn there is a real danger that the whole process will grind to a halt unless Turkey opens its ports and airports to Cyprus traffic.
Ankara insists that first the EU has to lift the economic isolation of northern Cyprus.Ankara insists that first the EU has to lift the economic isolation of northern Cyprus.
In Turkey, too, the voices of Euro-scepticism as well Euro-vilification have become louder Omer SabanciTurkish industrialists' lobby
The issue is more sensitive than ever in Turkey, with elections due next year and nationalist feeling on the rise, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford reports from Istanbul.The issue is more sensitive than ever in Turkey, with elections due next year and nationalist feeling on the rise, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford reports from Istanbul.
Mr Erdogan comes directly from the United States, where President George W Bush endorsed Turkey's drive to become an EU member.Mr Erdogan comes directly from the United States, where President George W Bush endorsed Turkey's drive to become an EU member.
Reform slowdownReform slowdown
The EU Enlargement Commissioner, Olli Rehn, is in Ankara to urge Turkey to press ahead with reforms.The EU Enlargement Commissioner, Olli Rehn, is in Ankara to urge Turkey to press ahead with reforms.
At the beginning of his visit, he called on Turkey to amend provisions in its penal code, used to bring charges against journalists and scholars for insulting the Turkish Republic.At the beginning of his visit, he called on Turkey to amend provisions in its penal code, used to bring charges against journalists and scholars for insulting the Turkish Republic.
"The reforms in Turkey will determine the pace of the negotiations. The next step should be freedom of expression," Mr Rehn said."The reforms in Turkey will determine the pace of the negotiations. The next step should be freedom of expression," Mr Rehn said.
But our correspondent says that if the EU wants more signs of commitment from Turkey, many people in the country confess they are fast losing interest in the accession project.But our correspondent says that if the EU wants more signs of commitment from Turkey, many people in the country confess they are fast losing interest in the accession project.
Polls show a sharp drop in support. Many Turks now talk of double standards from Europe, of broken promises and hypocrisy.Polls show a sharp drop in support. Many Turks now talk of double standards from Europe, of broken promises and hypocrisy.
Scepticism
At a major conference in Brussels, EU and Turkish politicians called for renewed political will on both sides to keep the negotiations on track, the BBC's Oana Lungescu reports.
Omer Sabanci, from the influential Turkish industrialists' lobby (Tusiad), said the mood in Europe was more hostile than ever to further EU enlargement.
"The cartoon crisis, terrorist incidents and problems of integration related to Muslim communities in Europe have unleashed some old devils in Europe", he said.
Greek Cypriot troops: The Cyprus row overshadows Turkey's bid
"Extremists have started setting the agenda and those who seek dialogue and political accommodation have increasingly steeper hills to climb."
"In Turkey, too, the voices of Euro-scepticism as well Euro-vilification have become louder," Mr Sabanci added.
Tusiad organised the conference with the Brussels-based European Policy Centre.
Michael Leigh, who supervises the negotiations on behalf of the EU, said the key areas of concern were freedom of expression, freedom of religion, the situation of the Kurdish community in south-east Turkey and the Cyprus dispute.
But relations between the EU and Turkey had always had ups and downs and both had remained engaged throughout the decades, he added.
"Though we may go through a rocky patch, I trust there are no obstacles that are so serious that we cannot, with the necessary political will on both sides, overcome them," he said.
Mr Leigh said he hoped progress could be made before a keenly awaited report on Turkey's progress, to be published by the European Commission on 8 November.