Franse premier: alleen onderhandelingen met Turkije na erkenning Cyprus (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The French prime minister has questioned whether it is conceivable to open EU membership talks with Turkey if it does not recognise Cyprus.

Speaking to French radio on Tuesday (2 August), Dominique de Villepin said, "It seems to me inconceivable that such a negotiation process can begin with a country which does not recognise every one of the members of the European Union, that is to say the 25".

"There is a principle there that seems to me must be defended, and is one France will make clear to Turkey as well as to other European Union countries during the next meetings", he said.

Mr de Villepin's remarks come just two months before the bloc has formally committed itself to opening talks with Ankara and appears to add another condition to the opening of negotiations.

Technically, Turkey has fulfilled the obligations agreed by member states and rubberstamped at a summit last year when it passed legislation in six areas bringing it closer to EU democratic norms, and by agreeing to extend a customs agreement to cover all 25 member states, although it insists this does not mean recognition of Cyprus.

But now France, as a large and influential member state, has added its name to both Greece and the Greek Cypriot government calling for recognition of the divided Mediterranean island.

Responding to the French prime minister's comments, Turkish foreign minister Abdullah Gul said, according to the Anatolian news agency, "We expect France to continue to support Turkey's EU membership".

Each member state has the possibility to veto the opening of talks, scheduled for 3 October.

Turkey recognises only the Turkish northern part of Cyprus, refusing to recognise that the Greek Cypriot government is valid for the whole of the island.

Political risk

The island has been divided since 1974, after Turkey invaded the island in reaction to a Greek-inspired coup in Nicosia.

Following Mr de Villepin's remarks, the European Commission admitted that it was "concerned" about the enlargement process.

"Of course, there is a political risk", said a commission spokesperson on Tuesday.

The spokesperson added "we are also extremely attached to the recognition of Cyprus ... [but] we have always said that this issue must be addressed within the UN framework".

Last year the United Nations presented a plan to solve the Cyprus issue but it was rejected in a referendum by Greek Cypriots, although Turkish Cypriots voted in favour of the plan.

While Paris has now thrown down the gauntlet to Ankara, the next time all 25 member states are set for a full discussion on this issue is when foreign ministers meet for an informal meeting in the UK at the beginning of September.