Washington Tries to Prevent Break in EU-Turkey Talks

PanARMENIAN.Net - The United States intensified its meetings with Brussels at a critical time for Turkey-EU relations. Following the visit of U.S. State Department Assistant Secretary Daniel Fried in late October, Deputy Assistant Secretary Matthew Bryza held official meetings in Brussels on Tuesday. Bryza's visit will be followed by the arrival of Douglas Silliman, Director of Southern European Affairs Bureau at the U.S. State Department, in Brussels to meet EU authorities. Adopting a cautionary policy line to avoid the impression that it is interfering in European affairs, Washington is also trying to prevent the interruption of membership talks with Turkey. The United States, expressing its opposition to the Austria-backed possible suspension of EU negotiations, urged for the continuation of the negotiation process. Sources note that in case the Cyprus issue remained unresolved, it would be a better option to keep the negotiation chapters open. U.S. authorities believe that the parties to the Cyprus issue may come together under the auspices of EU term president Finland at the end of November, reports zaman.com.