BRUSSELS, Dec 16 (AFP) - European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso called for Turkey to be offered talks on full EU membership and not a "half-way house" by EU leaders at a summit later Thursday.
But Turkey must also recognise the internationally backed government on the divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus, he said.
"Our vision for Turkey is clear: we are not looking for some kind of half-way house or mid-way deal," Barroso told a news conference as European Union leaders gathered for the two-day summit.
"If we should start negotiations with Turkey, it should be with full European membership in mind," he said.
A clutch of EU states led by Austria have called for the bloc to offer Ankara a "privileged partnership" as an alternative to full EU membership, should negotiations fail.
Barroso added: "Cyprus will be sitting at the table when European Union membership talks begin with Turkey.
"The question for Turkey is what kind of message does it send when you do not recognise all the members sitting at the table?"
EU leaders are pressing Turkey to agree to the de facto recognition of Cyprus, which has been divided along ethnic lines since 1974, when Turkish troops occupied the northern third of the island.
Barroso said the EU executive, which recommended in October that Turkey had done enough to win a start to accession talks, does not believe that new political conditions such as Cyprus should be applied on Ankara.
"But it is clear that Turkey is facing the challenge of winning over the hearts and minds of peoples in Europe. Turkey`s accession is an exceptional matter, so exceptional measures are required," he said.
Aside from demands on Cyprus, the EU leaders are expected to attach a series of tough provisos to Turkey`s eventual accession, including a permanent exemption or "derogation" to prevent Turkish workers flooding the EU.
Other restrictions would apply on how much financial aid Turkey can receive from the EU for its infrastructure and agriculture.
Barroso urged the EU leaders not to go too far in their demands on Turkey.
"We should not enlarge too much the scope of derogations, the scope of safeguard clauses, the scope of transitional periods," he said. "It will be my recommendation tonight if the discussion comes to that specific point."
On another demand raised by the French government this week, Barroso said Turkey should face up to its past but stopped short of demanding that it admit to a World War I-era "genocide" of Armenians.
"Over the next few years, all of these issues are going to have to be up for discussion. But on the day of opening of negotiations with Turkey, we can`t introduce new political conditions at this stage," he said.
"Having said that, the question you raise (of Armenia) must be the subject of a frank sincere discussion. There should be no qualms about that.
"We have to have a debate about our values, about what Turkey and Europe want, about what are prepared to commit ourselves to."
12/16/2004 12:12 GMT - AFP