Cyprus overweegt veto tegen lidmaatschap Turkije tot EU (en)

Cyprus has raised the spectre of voting against Turkey when EU leaders gather in December to decide whether to open membership negotiations with Ankara.

President Tassos Papadopoulos told Cyprus television on Monday (11 October) that Cyprus reserved the right to use its veto. "We will decide on the matter in December" said Mr Papadopoulos.

He added that he knew that a small country like Cyprus resorting to the veto would be "no easy thing".

German newspaper Die Welt quotes Cypriot diplomats as saying that it would be impossible for Nicosia to accept the opening of EU talks with Ankara so long as it does not recognise one of the 25 member states.

At the moment, Turkey recognises only Turkish Northern Cyprus as a state - and at the same time it refuses to recognise the Republic of Cyprus as a state.

Turkish papers quote Greek president Costis Stefanopoulos as saying that Athens would support Turkey's EU membership but that there were obligations it had to fulfil under international law.

"Under international law, first Turkey needs to recognize Greek Cyprus", said Mr Stefanopoulos.

Turkey wants changes to Commission report

Turkey also has issues on another front.

A spokesperson for the Turkish government on Monday demanded that changes be made to the recently published report by the European Commission on opening EU negotiations with Ankara.

Turkey is objecting both to the phrasing that the negotiations have an open end and to the fact that permanent curbs to the freedom of movement of workers have been suggested.

Debate but no vote in France

Meanwhile, in France, the discussion about Turkey continues to rage.

On Monday, it was decided that French MPs will hold a parliamentary debate on Turkey, but will not vote on the issue.

The debate will take place on Thursday (14 October) and threatens to split many parties, including the ruling UMP party.

Mr Chirac has tried to reassure French voters - hostile to Turkey - by saying that France could apply its veto on Turkey whenever it wanted.