Turkish leader refuses to take steps on Cyprus
Reuters, Agence France-Presse
Saturday, December 11, 2004
EU asks for gesture before talks start
BRUSSELS Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey rebuffed a European Commission plea Friday to make a gesture toward recognition of Cyprus before EU leaders decide on opening membership talks with Turkey.
A Turkish official said that at a meeting with Erdogan at the European Union's headquarters, the commission's president, José Manuel Barroso, "expressed the expectation" to see a gesture from Turkey on Cyprus before the summit meeting.
Erdogan said that Turkey was not going to take any further steps on Cyprus, the official told reporters. The official said Cyprus should not be an issue before the EU decision Friday.
Turkish leader refuses to take steps on Cyprus
