27/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - After talks with Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, British Liberal Democrat Andrew Duff MEP, deputy chair of the Joint Committee of the EP/Turkish Grand National Assembly Joint Committee, said that the Copenhagen Summit must "make a firm pledge for the opening up of negotiations with Turkey, - this being conditional on Rauf Denktash (Turkish Cypriot leader) entering into final status negotiations in Cyprus on the basis of the Annan plan". According to Mr. Duff, a firm pledge on accession negotiations with Turkey would encourage the liberal forces in the country. CDU member Hartmut Nassauer MEP, on the contrary, warned Chancellor Schroeder against any decision in favour of a date for the beginning of accession negotiations with Ankara. Any "automatism" on the subject would cause "irreparable damage" to the EU, says Nassauer, repeating that the EU should rather offer Turkey a "special partnership".