EU-diplomaten worstelen met Turkse houding jegens Cyprus (en)

EUOBSERVER/ BRUSSELS - The UK presidency's goal of reaching agreement on Wednesday (7 September) over an EU counter declaration on Cyprus, meant to pave the way for entry talks with Turkey, was proving "very difficult" to reach, according to diplomats.

Diplomats close to the meeting between EU ambassadors said the talks were "very tough".

Discussions were expected to drag on into Wednesday evening - and it was unsure whether the declaration could be finalised by the end of the day.

With the deadline for the opening of accession talks with Ankara on 3 October fast approaching, London is striving for consensus on the "counter declaration" on Cyprus as soon as possible.

The "counter declaration" is supposed to represent the EU's answer to Turkey's unilateral declaration on 29 July.

The Turkish declaration stated that its signature to extend a customs agreement with the EU to all new member states - including Cyprus - did not mean recognition of the Mediterranean island state.

The envisioned EU declaration seeks to accommodate Cypriot, Greek and French claims that Turkey is unfit to negotiate with the bloc, if it does not recognise all 25 of its members.

Big differences

Diplomats told the EUobserver there are still "big differences" between member states over the toughness of the text.

France and Cyprus demand an explicit mentioning of the word "recognition" in the text, and on top of this the Cypriots want to see a roadmap spelling out that Ankara will over time take concrete steps towards recognising the island.

On Tuesday (6 September), the British presidency had issued a draft version of the declaration that was more conciliatory towards Ankara, which was unacceptable to the Cypriots.

It led to Cypriot foreign minister George Iacovou to state, according to Cyprus News Agency, ''I do not foresee that we will agree today. I cannot even foresee a counterstatement this week''.

But France, which along with the Cypriots has demanded a tough stance against Ankara, appeared more optimistic.

A French spokesman said today that he was confident that the declaration could be finalised soon, "possibly today".

Entry talks can be suspended at any time

France along with Austria, Greece and Cyprus are pressing for full implementation by Ankara of the customs agreement it signed with the enlarged EU. This means that Turkey is obliged to stop banning Cypriot ships and planes from its territory.

The group of countries wishes to see the issue tied as a condition to the opening of accession talks with Ankara.

A French spokesman told the EUobserver that it should be formulated explicitly in the counter declaration that the EU can "suspend the negotiations with Turkey in case any problem arises over the implementation of the customs agreement".