"Countdown to Turkey EU talks
28/09/2005
www.financialmirror.com
Barring any last minute hiccups, Turkey will start accession negotiations on October 3 that are expected to last for at least ten years and are unlikely to be smooth sailing.
One of the trickiest aspects will be transport, following Turkey's declaration that it does not recognise Cyprus and indications by politicians that it has no intention of opening air and transport routes to Cyprus.
A draft political declaration that will be studied by the COREPER meeting of EU foreign ministers this week with the aim of presenting it to Turkey when it starts EU accession negotiations next Monday, will emphasise that Turkey’s progress in the negotiations will depend in implementing its commitments.
According to CNA, part of the declaration says 'The monitoring of your commitments will become a key element for taking, in the Council context, the necessary decisions on the conduct of negotiations with you. Particular attention will be paid to the implementation of the Protocol regarding the adaptation of the Ankara Agreement, on which the EU’s position was set out in its Declaration of 20 September 2005'."
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