EU to Open 1st Round of Talks with Turkey on June 12

PanARMENIAN.Net - During their meeting in Vienna over the weekend, European Union foreign ministers agreed to open the first round of negotiations with Turkey on June 12 during the ministers' meeting in Luxembourg. Diplomatic sources stated that the EU plans to open talks on the science and research chapter during the Turkey-EU Partnership Council meeting the same day in Luxembourg. Sources also underlined that the decision taken by the 25-nation bloc's foreign ministers is aimed at strengthening reforms in Turkey, which will give a positive message to those who object to Turkey's EU bid. They underlined that although Austria, which will hold the rotating EU term presidency until the end of June, is unwilling to open talks with Turkey, it might welcome the opening of talks on one chapter during its presidency to shake the impression that Vienna is biased against Turkey, reports the New Anatolian Agency.