Babacan: "Progress in our EU talks has been hindered by some chapters being blocked"

Foreign Minister and chief negotiator for Turkey's European Union talks Ali Babacan yesterday attended the Fifth Intergovernmental Conference in Luxembourg. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Babacan said that Turkey expects its membership talks to continue with its technical preparations on four chapters taken into consideration, but added, "Unfortunately, we have seen that this is not the case." Stating that Turkey has been ready to open talks with the EU on five or six chapters, Babacan said that beginning talks on chapters such as education and culture and economic and monetary policy, which don't require accession criteria, has been blocked by some EU countries. Asked about Ireland's recent rejection of the Treaty of Lisbon, Babacan said that the EU's internal problems will not affect Turkey's negotiation process. Touching on recent Israeli-Syrian peace talks held under Turkish auspices, Babacan stated that the second round of meetings in Istanbul had ended successfully, and that more importantly, the next meeting is set to convene within about a month.