Turkish Minister for EU Affairs Egemen Bagis said that France had given Turkey a chance to continue talks on EU membership. Turkey will open the article on regional autonomy. Bagis added that 12 out of 16 articles could have been opened if they were not blocked, News.am reports.
Turkey filed the bid to join the EU in 1987. It has been occupying the northern part of the Cyprus since 1974, which remains the main obstacle for EU membership. The Cyprus Republic joined the EU in 2004. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s plan to settle the conflict failed.
Bagis expressed hope that a referendum will be organized for a new plan in early 2014. Positive votes would remove obstacles for 14 articles.
