<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=629 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4103931.stm




</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=416><!-- S BO --><!-- S IIMA --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=203 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD> Mr Erdogan has held late-night talks with EU leaders

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IIMA -->Turkey has said it is "disappointed" at the conditions set out by the EU for opening accession talks.

EU leaders have offered to begin membership talks with Turkey next year, with 3 October given as a start date.

But a Turkish diplomat said the EU's tough demands, especially that Turkey recognise Cyprus, meant there were only "slim chances" of reaching agreement.

Discussion on finalising the offer, which aims to give Turkey full membership, will continue on Friday.

The EU has said it could take up to 15 years before Turkey is able to join, and entry cannot be guaranteed.

Draft protocol

EU leaders warned Turkey before the two-day summit started that it would have to take steps to recognise Cyprus.

But the Turkish diplomat told reporters on Friday that "the feeling is one of disappointment" at the conditions imposed by EU leaders.

The draft protocol "does not look like a document that can be signed", he added.

The EU has also announced that it will start accession talks with Croatia in April 2005.

However, talks will begin only if the country co-operates fully with the UN war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

<!-- S IBOX --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=208 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=5></TD><TD class=sibtbg> Tonight the EU has opened its door to Turkey


Jose Manuel Barroso
European Commission president

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IBOX -->A draft statement circulated on Friday morning said Ankara would on Friday have to initial an accord extending an existing pact with the EU to the 10 new member states, which include Cyprus, Reuters news agency reported.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said the 3 October date would give Turkey enough time to allow its parliament to ratify the move.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks overnight with Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, who currently holds the EU presidency.

"We talked ... in detail about several aspects and tomorrow (Friday) we will continue our conversation," Mr Balkenende said after Thursday's discussion.

Mr Erdogan said earlier he expected a deal on the divided island before the summit ends on Friday.

'Balanced offer'

Turkey, which occupies northern Cyprus, had originally said it would not bow to demands to recognise the country, calling the issue a "red line".

The internationally recognised southern part of Cyprus is an EU member.

<!-- S IBOX --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=208 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=5></TD><TD class=sibtbg>TURKEY'S RED LINES
Negotiations must have Turkey's complete membership as the final aim
Turkey must not be forced to extend diplomatic recognition to the Republic of Cyprus
The decision to start talks must not be conditional on later decisions by EU leaders
There should be no special conditions imposed permanently on Turkey



<!-- S ILIN -->EU report - key points
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- E IBOX -->Mr Balkenende said summit leaders still had to discuss conditions to be attached to the eventual accession.

The BBC's William Horsley in Brussels says doubts voiced by France and Austria about Turkey's accession have led to an offer that is hedged by strict conditions and falls short of a promise of eventual membership.

The Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, held talks overnight with EU officials to try to win more favourable terms.

But European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Thursday hailed the offer.

"Tonight the EU has opened its door to Turkey," he said.

<!-- S IBOX --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=208 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=5></TD><TD class=sibtbg>HAVE YOUR SAY
A Turkish entry to the EU will be disastrous for the European dream of integration and for Turkey itself


Matt Koffer, USA



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"In doing so, it is making a balanced offer which takes into consideration the legitimate preoccupations of Turkey and legitimate preoccupations also of EU member states."

"We believe this is an offer Turkey should be glad to accept."

Mr Erdogan has promised to scrutinise "every word" of the EU leaders' decisions. If Turkey's application is successful, the EU's frontier would extend deep into the Middle East. It could become the first EU member with a majority Muslim population.

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