EU foreign ministers have reached a deal clearing the way for accession talks
with Turkey to begin, EU officials have said.
Austria had demanded the EU keep open the option of "privileged partnership"
for Turkey, as well as full membership. But officials said after intense negotiations
in Luxembourg that Austria had fallen into line.
The new document has been sent to the Turkish government, which is considering whether to accept it.
Reporters in Luxembourg say everyone there is now waiting keenly for Ankara's
response.
"The government is studying the text and its decision will be made after
a period of close evaluation in Ankara," a Turkish official in Luxembourg
said.
Earlier EU foreign ministers put back a ceremony marking the scheduled official opening of Turkey's EU membership talks, due to be held at 1700 (1500 BST), as the Turkish delegation was still waiting in Ankara for news of a breakthrough.
Diplomats from Britain, which holds the rotating EU presidency and has been chairing negotiations, said they still hoped talks could begin on Monday.
Before the breakthrough, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Turkey's ruling AK party he would not compromise on the conditions for starting talks.
"We have protected and are continuing to protect our stance, which is appropriate to Turkey's national interests and political principles," he said, to loud applause.
'Listening to people'
Monday saw Austria put under intense pressure, as it, alone among the EU's
25 members, demanded that the draft framework for entry talks should be rewritten.
The EU's member states must unanimously approve a negotiating mandate before
talks can begin.
Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik said her country was "listening to the people" by questioning full membership for Turkey.
"There are moments when we have to say that such fundamental things are at stake that a compromise is not possible," she warned.
"We will not let anyone intimidate us and we do not feel isolated," she insisted, but after a series of meetings with UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, it appeared she gave way.
'Theological divide'
There is deep popular opposition in Austria and other European countries
to Turkey's accession to the EU, with sceptics citing Turkey's size, poverty,
and main religion - Islam - as reasons to keep it at a distance.
Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel has said he wants the EU to acknowledge
popular concerns over its expansion.
But Mr Straw warned of a "theological-political divide, which could open up even further down the boundary between so-called Christian-heritage states and those of Islamic heritage".
If started, the Turkish negotiations are expected to take about 10 years.
Also on Monday, a meeting to discuss starting entry talks with Croatia was
postponed until after the Turkey issue could be settled.
© Gigaware™ Ltd 2005