EU, Turkey reach deal
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BRUSSELS, Dec. 17. - Turkey accepted a compromise formula on recognition of Cyprus today, paving the way for talks to start next year on Turkey joining the European Union, the Dutch Prime Minister said today.
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BRUSSELS - The EUâs historic deal with Turkey to open entry talks with the vast Muslim country was hailed by supporters as a bridge builder between Europe and the Islamic world.
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BRUSSELS The European Union took a huge step towards its most controversial enlargement to date late Thursday night by agreeing to open membership negotiations with Turkey, although with strict conditions.
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Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated Thursday that he expects to reach a compromise with the EU on the vexed issue of Cyprus before the end of a two-day Brussels summit.
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European Union leaders agreed Thursday to open negotiations with Turkey next year on eventual EU membership, but the Turkish premier said more talks were needed &#151; presumably over the divided island of Cyprus &#151; before he could accept the offer.
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Turkey won a green light from the  European Commission on Wednesday to open membership  negotiations with the European Union, a watershed decision  after 40 years of on-again, off-again talks.
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European Union foreign ministers  agreed on Monday on a partial freeze of Turkey's EU membership  talks to penalize Ankara for failing to normalize trade with  Cyprus.
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On the eve of a landmark summit at which EU leaders will decide on opening membership talks with Turkey, the final elements of a compromise package on the terms for the negotiations was emerging.
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The European Union (EU) and Turkey overcame a last-minute standoff to reach a historic agreement to open membership talks next October at a two-day summit meeting of European leaders in Brussels last Friday.
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Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende has confirmed a compromise with Turkey on EU demands that the Turks recognize the Greek-led government of Cyprus before formally opening membership talks.
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European Union leaders and Turkey  agreed on Friday the terms on which Ankara will start  membership talks with the bloc next October, an EU government  official said.
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The European Union's decision to hold entry talks with Turkey receives a widespread welcome.
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Turkey and Iraq agree to work together to deal with the problem of Kurd rebels in northern Iraq.
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The European Union has a rendezvous with history this week. Turkey will be invited to begin talks over the course of next year that will probably lead to its membership in the European Union within about 15 years.
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Turkey took a significant step Wednesday toward its long-cherished goal of joining the European Union when the E.U.'s executive branch proposed opening formal negotiations over membership for the predominately Muslim nation.
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Turkey won a provisional green light from the European Commission on Wednesday to open membership negotiations with the European Union, a watershed decision after 40 years of on-again, off-again talks.
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Turkey declared it had fulfilled all the political criteria for membership talks with the European Union on Sunday, three days before a recommendation from the EU&#39;s executive that will give Ankara a green light.