...steps up pressure on Turkey

French President Jacques Chirac increased pressure on Turkey yesterday to clarify its stance on Cyprus and said Ankara must offer assurances it will carry out all its commitments to the European Union.

Turkey is due to start EU entry talks on October 3, but has angered the union by saying its signing of a key EU protocol does not signify recognition of the Greek Cypriot government. Ankara backs breakaway Turkish Cypriots in northern Cyprus.

"Following its unilateral declaration on Cyprus, Turkey must make clarifications and assure the 25-nation EU of its willingness to fully respect its commitments (to the EU)," Mr Chirac told a conference of French ambassadors.

"The opening of negotiations with Turkey is just the start of a long and difficult path whose end is uncertain," he said.

Turkey cleared the last obstacle to the talks last month by signing what is known as the Ankara protocol extending its customs union to the 10 new EU members including Cyprus.

But Ankara also issued a declaration making clear the signing of the protocol did not signify recognition of the Greek Cypriot government, regarded by Brussels as the sole legitimate authority on the island.

Mr Chirac said on Friday that Ankara's declaration posed political and legal problems and was not in the spirit expected of a country hoping to join the EU.

But the European Commission said yesterday that Turkey's recognition of Cyprus was not legally necessary, though it would help its bid.

"It is clear that every effort that Turkey can make before October 3 will be very helpful. But there is no legal obligation for Turkey to do more than it has done already," Commission spokeswoman Françoise Le Bail told a briefing in Brussels. Ms Le Bail said it was clear that Turkey would be negotiating with all 25 member states of the EU and that Ankara's refusal to recognise Cyprus had created an anomaly that needed resolving.

She said EU foreign ministers would discuss the implications of the declaration at a meeting tomorrow and on Friday.