Turkey appears to be playing down expectations about progress in EU talks, with Turkey’s chief EU negotiator Ali Babacan saying on Thursday that Turkey might not open the education and culture chapter on Monday as scheduled.
Turkey got the go ahead to start accession negotiations last October but so far only a screening process has taken place and no negotiation chapters have opened.
Next week is supposed to see the opening of the chapter on education and culture and the opening and closing of the chapter on science and research.
“Everyone should be ready for occasional slippages and problems with the EU,” Turkish Daily News reported Babacan saying in a press conference.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is supposed to travel to Luxembourg for a last minute meeting with EU foreign ministers on Monday.
On Thursday the Permanent Representatives Committee of the EU (COREPER), agreed in principle on a joint position to be put to Turkey next week.
According to the Cyprus News Agency, the joint position notes that “Turkey’s support for efforts for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem within the UN framework and in line with the principles on which the Union is founded will continue to be essential, whilst contributing to a better climate for a comprehensive settlement”.
Furthermore, the position notes, “the Union calls on Turkey to take concrete steps for the normalisation of bilateral relations between Turkey and all EU Member States, including the Republic of Cyprus as soon as possible”.
In this context, it adds, “the Union recalls its declaration of 21 September 2005. The Union also regrets that Turkey has not yet changed its policy towards Cyprus’ membership of international organisations and mechanisms such as Wassenaar arrangement”.
It is not clear whether there is any specific mention of Turkey’s refusal to implement the Ankara Protocol that would open air and sea traffic to Cypriot vessels or demand that it should be implemented.
Some reports suggest that Turkey will be given until the end of the year to open up sea and air traffic, otherwise talks wil be broken off.
France has also been pushing for a reference to political criteria in the education chapter.
