Turkey/EU

Talks on Ankara-EU relations in Prague

Article published on the 2009-04-21 Latest update 2009-04-21 12:39 TU

The Turkish and EU flags
(Photo: AFP)

Officials from Turkey are in Prague today for discussions on their country's long-delayed membership of the European Union. The Czech Republic currently holds the EU's rotating presidency.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan and his entourage are meeting Czech Foreign Affairs Minister Karel Schwarzeberg, Sweden's Carl Bildt and European Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn.

Negotiations over Turkey's EU membership started more than four years ago, with a long run-up of several more years, but discussion has only started on ten of the 35 chapters that need to be addressed.

Five have been blocked at the request of France, which, along with Germany and Austria, is not keen to see Turkey join. Britain and Italy, backed by the US, advocate a rapid accession to membership.

Eight more chapters are blocked because of Turkey's refusal to recognise the Greek part of Cyprus.

Hardline nationalists are celebrating their victory in Sunday's election on the Turkish part of the divided island, with National Unity Party leader Dervis Eroglu declaring that their must be two states on the island.

He appeared to hint at the possibility of a loose confederation with the Greek Cypriot state. His predecessor, Mehmet Ali Talat, had been negotiating with Greek Cypriot President Demetris Christofias on a bi-zonal federation.