ANKARA, Oct 1: A row with Brussels on the status of Turkish Cypriots forced Turkey on Friday to scrap talks it was to host between the European Union and Muslim nations, in another tense episode before a crucial decision on the country's bid to join the EU.

Officials in Ankara were quick to dismiss fears that the spat would have an adverse impact on a Dec 17 verdict by EU leaders on whether to start accession talks with Turkey.

"The cancellation of the gathering has no bearing on the decision to be taken regarding Turkey - there is no link whatsoever between the two issues," a senior government official said on condition of anonymity.

The row came hot on the heels of a crisis between Turkey and the EU that was resolved last week when Ankara backed down on plans to criminalize adultery. On Wednesday, the European Commission is set to release a key report, widely expected to be a favourable, on Turkey's progress towards EU membership.

The informal meeting between foreign ministers from the EU and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), set for Monday and Tuesday in Istanbul, collapsed after the EU's Dutch presidency called on fellow members to boycott the talks amid a dispute on how the Turkish Cypriots would take part.

Ankara had insisted on calling the breakaway Turkish Cypriot enclave a "state" even though EU nations - like the entire international community, save Turkey - recognize the Greek Cypriot government of the divided island.

The gathering was intended to promote better ties and understanding between Europe and Muslim countries. The first such talks between the two blocs were held in Istanbul in February 2002, in the wake of the September 11 attacks in the United States the previous year.

"We regret the fact that an important initiative, aimed at contributing to world peace by promoting dialogue between civilizations and cultures, has been prevented due to such an unessential reason," the Turkish foreign ministry said.

EU officials also had some harsh words for Ankara. "I'm surprised that Turkey is risking a new row with Europe in the middle of an important phase of its EU candidacy," a European diplomat told AFP.

He described Turkey's attitude as "a remarkable example of amateurism ahead of the historical December 17 decision." At the heart of the row was a decision by the OIC in June to refer to the Turkish Cypriot community, which has an observer status in the pan-Islamic group, as "the Cypriot Turkish state," without formally recognizing it.

The decision was a gesture to the Turkish Cypriots following the strong support they gave in an April referendum to a UN plan to end the 30-year division of Cyprus.

The peace effort failed when the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot south of the island rejected the plan, ensuring that they alone joined the EU on May 1. The Greek Cypriots, backed by EU member Greece, are categorically opposed to any move that could imply recognition of the self-styled Turkish Cypriot state let in the north, called the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

"The meeting (in Istanbul) was sabotaged because of provocations by the Greek Cypriots," a Turkish diplomat charged. Turkey had assured EU countries that their participation at the gathering alongside the Turkish Cypriots would not amount to recognition of the TRNC.

Various formulae the two sides proposed to resolve the dispute were mutually rejected. Hostilities between Turkey and Greek Cyprus, some observers say, may impede Turkey's efforts to join the EU, where the Greek Cyprus is now a full member. -AFP