EU resolves stand-off with Cyprus on Turkish EU bid

Turkey was set to conclude the first round of membership negotiations with the European Union today, 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.