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Turkey seeks start of EU member process
(AP)
Updated: 2005-09-02 10:31
Turkey insisted Thursday that it has fulfilled conditions for European Union
membership, as foreign ministers of the 25-nation group started meeting in
Newport, Wales, to assess the predominantly Muslim nation's efforts to join
the bloc.
The EU has already imposed tough conditions on membership for Turkish, a
nation of 70 million. Turkey must recognize Cyprus before membership talks open
next month, and show progress on Kurdish rights.
It must also improving its economy, limit the military's influence in
politics, and treat ethnic and religious minorities equally and reform its penal
code.
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said in Ankara before leaving for the
EU talks in Wales that Ankara "has fulfilled its obligations conscientiously and
meticulously" and the EU must agree to start negotiations on Turkey's membership
on Oct. 3 as it agreed last December.
"Now all Turkey can do is to expect EU members to honor their signature of
Dec. 17." he said.
In the biggest sticking point, the EU wants Turkey to recognize Cyprus, as
Cyprus will need to approve eventual membership for Turkey.
On July 29 Turkey signed an accord extending its customs union with the
European Union to Cyprus and other new EU members — a key step toward opening
membership talks with the bloc.
Cyprus has been divided between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities
since Turkey sent troops to the island in 1974, following an abortive coup by
supporters of union with Greece. Turkey still has some 35,000 troops on the
island.
The EU foreign ministers will also try to find a way to restart talks with
Iran over its nuclear program.
European negotiators have so far failed to persuade Iran to give up some
nuclear activities that can be used to make weapons.
Tehran recently rejected economic and other incentives offered by Britain,
France and Germany — negotiating on behalf of the EU — and resumed activity
related to uranium enrichment.
France called on Iran early this week to cooperate in nuclear talks or risk
having the issue sent to the U.N. Security Council, which has the power to
impose sanctions.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who is hosting the EU meeting, is
expected to push Iran to continue the talks if it wants to avoid being called
before the Security Council.
The EU faces pressure from Washington, which accuses Tehran of using its
civilian nuclear program as a cover to secretly develop nuclear weapons. Tehran
insists the program is only for generating electricity.
In August, Iran restarted uranium conversion, an early stage on the nuclear
fuel cycle that precedes enrichment. Highly enriched uranium can be used to make
weapons. At lower levels, it is used in power generation.
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