Britain Pushes for Turkey Eu Talks to Go Ahead

Britain and the US pressed yesterday for talks on the accession of Turkey to the EU to begin as planned on October 3 in spite of increasing opposition from France and Cyprus.

The intervention of the US will help persuade some of the waverers but could be counter-productive in France, which has emerged as one of Turkey's main opponents.

Mr Straw, in a speech in London, warned that failure to allow Turkey entry could create a serious crisis in the future. "We all have an interest in the modernisation of Turkey and of reform there," he said. "If we make the wrong decision, we could find that we have a crisis on our own doorstep."

The UK has emerged as the main champion of Turkish accession. Mr Straw said it would help in the fight against international terrorism by demonstrating that "western and Islamic cultures can thrive together as partners in the modern world".

The US, which has been lobbying the EU to speed up Turkish entry since the September 11 attacks, said European leaders should stop erecting obstacles, such as a row over Turkey's position on Cyprus.

Kurt Volker, principal deputy assistant US secretary of state, said during a visit to Brussels: "It is in the interests of the EU, it is in the interests of Turkey, it is in our interests to see accession talks begin ... I hope that some longer-term perspectives would prevail."

The EU agreed last year that accession talks would begin on October 3 and re-confirmed this earlier this year. But the atmosphere in parts of Europe has soured, particularly since the proposed constitution was rejected by France. If Germans vote next weekend for Angela Merkel as chancellor, Turkey will have another opponent.

Britain, holding the EU presidency, is trying to ensure that the commitment is honoured. One of the other 24 members could use its veto to block the framework agreement that would initiate talks.

British officials are leading behind-the-scenes negotiations on two documents: one a response to Turkey on Cyprus and the other a framework for accession negotiations.

Cyprus remains divided after its bloody civil war. The EU accepted the entry of the Greek Cypriot republic, leaving the Turkish-Cypriot part outside. Turkey angered France and other EU members when it refused to recognise the Greek-Cypriot republic.

The British government is trying to find a form of words that would mean that Turkish entry would, in effect, amount to recognition of the Greek Cypriot republic.