Turkey EU membership talks 'partially on hold'

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that the agreement was found thanks to the readiness for compromise, the excellent proposals by the Commission and the engagement of the presidency. He added: "We agreed on a package that gives consideration to all sides."

Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik said: "We need to take speed out of the process at this juncture. A number of areas of negotiation will have to remain on hold, but nobody will slam doors." Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said she believed that "the EU guarded its credibility and sent a clear message to Turkey". She added: "We would like to have a European Turkey in the EU as a member state but a European Turkey must comply with the European obligations. It’s a positive message for Turkey and provides an opportunity to move on." Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister  Yiorgos  Lillikas said: "I hope that after this decision Turkey will take the necessary steps forward in implementing its obligations. This will lead us to the normalisation of its relations with the 25 EU member states." Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said: "[This decision] sends a signal to Turkey that failure to meet legal obligations cannot remain without consequences but it enables progress in the accession negotiations. This is in the mutual interest of the EU and Turkey."