19 December 2004	Sunday	06 Ziqa'ad 1425

PARIS, Dec 18: Agreement to start talks on Turkey's membership of the European Union got a mixed reception Saturday in the European press, varying from a cheer from Britain to caution among other major players including France, Germany and the Greek-speaking world.

London newspapers said the decision would bolster Europe's bridge to moderate Islam.

The Times said Turkey was an example of "moderate Islam's ability to flourish in a secular state.

"Its admission would send a signal of the EU's commitment to diversity and universal values. For centuries the Ottoman empire shaped Europe and shared its heritage. Turkey's moderation, energy and creativity are needed in the Europe of tomorrow."

The Financial Times commented: "Most important of all, the EU is strengthening a bridge to a democratic secular republic with a Muslim majority, at a time of gathering conflict between Islam and the west that looks set to last at least a generation."

French press reaction reflected sceptical public opinion, though the tabloid Le Parisien was impressed by Turkish tactics in negotiations at the summit that decided on a start to membership talks in October.

It was already behaving like an EU member, the way it ducked and weaved, the paper said, adding, "Should Turkey join the EU? That's not the question - it already has."

Le Parisien noted: "When asked to recognize Cyprus as soon as possible in return for EU membership, it hesitated, beat about the bush, raised the stakes, threatened to walk out......"

Turkey reportedly threatened to walk out of Friday's summit if a condition on recognizing the Greek Cypriot government in Nicosia was not diluted, and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has asserted that the final deal does not amount to formal recognition.

GERMAN PRESS CRITICAL: The press in Germany, which has Europe's largest expatriate Turkish community, was critical, saying the Brussels decision was taken without popular support.

The centre-left newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung warned: "Times have changed since you could shape Europe without consulting the public."

The centre-left Berliner Zeitung likewise criticized what it called "a project by an elite that shows contempt for the public".

The Tagesspiegel said Mr Erdogan had not exactly made friends in Brussels. "Even faithful allies like (German) Chancellor Schroeder could no longer go along with him in the row over recognition of Cyprus."

Turkish newspapers however heaped praise on Mr Erdogan.

"We did it," trumpeted the mass-circulation Hurriyet and the conservative Yeni Safak.

Others highlighted the tough road ahead to adapt to EU norms.

"Everyone will have to work very hard," headlined the liberal daily Radikal.

The popular Vatan gave examples: "Garbage will be collected in separate bins for paper, plastic and glass... Farmers will have to build toilets in their fields and use gloves when milking the cows."

Greek newspapers were sceptical about a Turkish compromise on recognizing the Greek Cypriot Republic.

Right-wing, pro-government newspapers such as Eleftheros Typos and Kathimerini broadly interpreted the deal as amounting to "de facto recognition.

But opposition newspapers largely described the compromise as a defeat for Greek negotiators.

"The Europeans bowed to Turkish blackmail" over Cyprus, charged the left-wing Ethnos paper, which accused the EU of abandoning Cyprus with the complicity of the Greek government.

Eleftheros Typos slammed Mr Ergodan's brinksmanship.

"The endless bargaining (from Turkey) has shown European leaders the country they will have to face, a country which has great trouble adapting to European behaviour," it commented.

The Greek Cypriot press also seethed over the decision, saying the move marked an ignominious defeat for Cyprus despite Turkey's promises.

Newspapers in the Netherlands, which has seen a wave of anti-Muslim violence after the murder of a Dutch filmmaker, hailed the deal as success for the Dutch EU presidency ending on Dec 31. The biggest paper, the conservative Telegraaf, called it a "true feat".

The Italian press was cautious, highlighting the difficulties ahead.

Corriere della Sera said despite mutual congratulations in Brussels the real winners were "the general doubts ... planted just about everywhere".

Il Messaggero commented: "There's no doubt that the green light to Turkey is qualified by all sorts of perplexities and doubts." -AFP