Schroder Confirms Turkey’s Negotiation Start Date

Schroeder in a joint press conference with Austrian Prime Minister Wolfgang Schussel responded to a question, by saying "The postponement of membership negations with Croatia’s cannot be linked to Turkey." On the other hand, Schussel responded to the same question by asserting, "There is still a problem with Turkey over the Customs Union adaptation protocol." The Austrian Prime Minister remarked that Vienna has argued different opinions regarding Turkey’s EU relations; however, it agrees with the decision reached in Brussels on 17 December 2004. Meanwhile, The Greek Cypriot administrator Tasos Papadapolous’ declaration stating that, "I called on the United Nations (UN) secretary general to start a new initiative," was declared by the UN to be false.