German Chancellor Schroeder: First Hurdle To Turkey's E.U. Membership Has Been Overcome

BRUSSELS (AA) - German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said on Friday that the first hurdle to Turkish EU membership EU had been overcome.
     Holding a news conference after the EU Summit in Brussels, Schroeder said that Ankara had accepted a formula on Cyprus, paving the way for accession talks on October 3rd, 2005.
     ''Turkey agreed to a formula under which they will pledge to sign an agreement extending the current customs union with the EU to include Cyprus and the nine other EU members that joined in May,'' he said.
     It would constitute de facto recognition by Turkey of the Greek Cypriot side, Schroeder added.
     (UK-MS)
2004-12-17