by Sibel Utku Bila
ANKARA - European Union leaders began talks with Turkish officials here Monday to prepare the ground for the start of accession negotiations with Ankara in October.
Turkey's refusal to recognize Cyprus, one of the 25 members of the European bloc, was expected to be high on the agenda.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul led the Turkish delegation in the talks with the so-called EU troika comprising Luxembourg and Britain -- the current and future holders of the EU's rotating presidency -- and the European Commission.
The EU side was represented by Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, Britain's Minister for Europe Denis MacShane and EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn.
Last December, EU leaders gave Turkey the go-ahead to begin membership talks on October 3 on condition that it sign a protocol extending an already-existing Turkey-EU association agreement to cover 10 new members, including Cyprus, that joined the bloc in May 2004.
After talks with Gul late Sunday, Rehn told reporters he had received assurances that Turkey would sign the protocol by October 3.
Ankara maintains that updating the agreement will not signify its formal endorsement of the internationally-recognized Greek Cypriot government and is reportedly seeking to put a reservation to that effect when it signs the the document.
Cyprus has been divided between its Greek and Turkish communities since 1974, when Turkey occupied its northern third following a Greek Cypriot coup seeking to unite the Mediterranean island with Greece.
Turkey, the only country to recognize the breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, believes that the Greek Cypriots are using Ankara's EU bid to extract more concessions in the three-decade Cyprus conflict.
The Greek Cypriots angered Brussels last April when they rejected a UN peace plan aimed at reuniting the island before it joined the EU, although the Turkish Cypriots gave the plan overwhelming support.
The result ensured that only the Greek Cypriots joined the bloc, leaving the Turkish Cypriots out in the cold.
Ankara is frustrated that Brussels has so far failed to fulfill pledges it made of financial aid and eased trade restrictions for the Turkish Cypriots after their support for the UN peace effort.
The EU officials are also expected to renew pressure on Ankara to pursue its democratic reforms amid criticism at home that the government has fallen victim to reform fatigue after winning the date for accession talks.
Rehn said Sunday that the government should properly implement measures to eradicate torture, extend the rights of women and Kurds, improve the situation of non-Muslim communities and ensure greater freedom of expression.
Rehn was also scheduled to have talks with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and main opposition leader Deniz Baykal later Monday.
He will travel on to Istanbul Tuesday to meet non-governmental organizations and business leaders.
03/07/2005 09:36 GMT