Related: EU decision can not change Turkey's route: PM   

  

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw(Middle), EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn(L) hold a press conference in Luxembourg Oct.3, 2005. (Xinhua photo)

LUXEMBOURG, Oct. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- An emergency meeting of European Union (EU) foreign ministers failed to remove the last hurdle to accession talks with Turkey by early Monday, casting doubt on the opening of talks in the afternoon.

    British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, whose country holds the EU presidency, admitted that the EU is in a "frustrating situation."

    But bilateral talks between the EU presidency and the European Commission with Austria will continue into the night, Straw told a brief press conference.

    Austria's insistence that talks with Ankara would lead to something like "privileged partnership" instead of full membership remains the major obstacle to the formal launch of talks on Monday afternoon.

    Turkey has made clear that such an option is not acceptable.

    Straw would not say whether or not the talks could start as scheduled for 5 p.m. (1600 GMT) on Monday. Enditem