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ANKARA: Steps Leading to Oct 3 Start Talks for Turkish EU Acceptance

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  • ANKARA: Steps Leading to Oct 3 Start Talks for Turkish EU Acceptance

    JOurnal of Turkish weekly
    June 20 2005

    Steps Leading Up to the October 3 Start Talks for Turkish EU Acceptance

    source: Hurriyet

    The most important step leading up to the October 3 talks which will
    begin the process to determine Turkey-EU relations is the Framework
    for Accession Talks document which will be published by the EU in
    September. There is, however, the fear that relations between Turkey
    and the EU could be affected negatively prior to the start of October
    3 talks due to aspects of this document. Despite budget crises and
    overturned referendums in the EU, there are no legal barriers to the
    October 3 talks starting. A brief look at the process which will
    proceed these talks for Turkey is as follows:


    *** It is expected that Turkey will sign an additional protocol to
    widen the current 25 country member Customs Union.

    *** Following the signing of the additional protocol, a written
    declaration that Turkey does not recognize the Cypriot Republic will
    be recorded.

    *** The Framework for Accession Talks document will be presented by
    the EU Commission to the EU Council on June 29. This document is
    expected to be a confirmation of the decisions made on December 17,
    2004 regarding the Turkish EU membership process.

    *** It is expected that this document will have many changes and
    additions made to it be current EU member countries.

    *** The real risk is that this document will have additions made to
    it which will ultimately prevent Turkey's EU membership. Demands made
    on the Armenian matter, Cyprus, or the use of the "privileged
    partner" expression are all aspects which could spell danger for
    Turkey. If the requests made in the document become too heavy for
    Turkey to handle, there is a real possibility that the start talks
    could be rejected by the Turkish side.
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