ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was set to fly to Luxembourg on Monday after the European Union overcame objections from Cyprus to start detailed membership talks with Turkey, a Turkish diplomat said.
Gul agreed to join a meeting of EU foreign ministers there after Turkey managed to change a carefully-worded EU compromise paving the way for Ankara to start concrete talks with the bloc, foreign ministry spokesman Namik Tan told reporters here.
Asked what changes had been made to the EU text, Tan said: "A reference on the need for Turkey to recognise Cyprus has been taken out of the text."
The opening of concrete talks between Turkey and the Union had been held up by EU-member Cyprus, which had insisted that Ankara first recognise the Greek Cypriot government and open its ports to Cypriot ships and planes.
06/12/2006 14:10 GMT