Turkey-EU talks to be resumed in Jan. 2013

Turkey will resume talks with the EU in Jan. 2013, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay was quoted saying today by the Turkish news agency "Anadolu".

He said that almost all the negotiations with the EU were stopped during Cyprus's presidency in August of 2012. But the presidency will pass to Ireland in January, 2013.

Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that Turkey will break contacts with the European Union during the Republic of Cyprus's presidency in the organization.

Negotiations on Turkey's accession to the EU have been ongoing since 2005. Despite support from a majority of EU countries, France and Germany stubbornly refuse to provide it with full membership, proposing instead a "privileged partnership" with which Ankara is not satisfied.


/Trend/