41.   Greece links the EU-Turkey customs union to a starting date for EU membership talks with Cyprus.

42.   Greek Cypriots invite Turkish Cypriot side to EU membership talks.

43.   Germany has lobbied loudest for an early start to membership talks.

44.   Greece links the EU-Turkey customs union to a starting date of EU membership talks with Cyprus.

45.   Greece recently also lifted its objections to a customs agreement between Turkey and the European Union in return for a EU pledge to begin membership talks with Cyprus.

46.   Greece said Tuesday that its approval of a customs union between Turkey and the European Union depends on the EU starting membership talks with Cyprus and Malta.

47.   He called the refusal of the EU leaders, at a summit last Saturday, to offer membership talks unfair and discriminatory.

48.   He said Brittan feels China is becoming more flexible on such topics as trade barriers that led to a breakdown in its WTO membership talks last December.

49.   He said Brittan feels China is becoming more flexible on topics, such as trade barriers, that led to a breakdown in its WTO membership talks last December.

50.   However, spending on eastern farmers and poor areas has not even been discussed in the membership talks because EU governments disagree on how generous to be.