Talks on Turkey’s EU membership back on track

TURKEY’S membership negotiations with the EU are back on track, after EU foreign ministers resolved a stand-off with Cyprus over Ankara’s relationship with the divided island.

The EU agreed to Nicosia’s demand that Ankara be reminded of its obligation to normalise relations with the country’s Greek Cypriot government, while Nicosia agreed to drop its objections to completing science and research discussions in one day, paving the way for the first of 35 rounds of talks to take place.

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul travelled to Luxembourg for the talks, Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan said — an indication that Mr Gul accepted the EU’s compromise.