"EU says Turkey can start accession talks despite refusal to recognise Cyprus
08.29.2005, 10:19 AM
BRUSSELS (AFX) - Turkey can start EU membership talks as planned in October despite its refusal to recognize Cyprus, since this was not a condition for the negotiations to begin, the European Commission said.
But the commission, the European Union's executive arm, insisted that the talks will be with the whole 25-member bloc, and called on Ankara to do all it could to ease tensions over the thorny Cyprus issue.
'It is clear that every effort that Turkey can do before October 3 will be very helpful,' said spokeswoman Francoise Le Bail, referring to the planned start date for talks with Ankara.
'But there is no legal obligation for Turkey to do more than it has done already,' she added. "
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