February 21, 2007 - 18:56 AMT
Turkey hopes to begin EU talks in July 2007
"We hope to begin the European Union accession talks at least in four chapters if unexpected events do not occur in the first half of the year," said Ali Babacan, Turkey's chief negotiator for European Union talks. Babacan briefed the parliament on Tuesday regarding Turkey's accession process and reforms implemented so far. Babacan said that 66 delegations were formed and some two thousand people were sent to the European Union to monitor the system there and thus support the adaptation process. Commenting on the present situation in Cyprus, Babacan said that some foreign ministers and even prime ministers of EU member countries criticized the bloc's attitude toward Cyprus issue, adding that it caused the union to loose its credibility, reports Cihan News Agency.