Cyprus flies a kite on EU negotiating mandate with Turkey

Cyprus said on Wednesday it reached an agreement in principle with the European Union presidency on a mandate for negotiating with Turkey that should smooth the way for membership talks to open on Oct. 3.

The tentative agreement between Nicosia and Britain, which holds the EU presidency, was tabled at a meeting of the 25 EU ambassadors early Wednesday, and the outcome was still unclear. "From our side there are no longer any obstructions," said a Cypriot diplomat, who requested anonymity, reports the AP.