13/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - On 14 September, COREPER (the committee of Member States' representatives to the EU) will discuss the draft EU counter-declaration following Turkey's refusal to recognise the Republic of Cyprus, and the implementation of the additional protocol to the Customs Union Agreement between the EU and Turkey (see other article). A draft counter-statement was agreed on Monday (see EUROPE 9025) between France and the British Presidency of the Council of the EU. On Tuesday, the British Presidency continued its bilateral consultations with, for example, Cyprus. In Paris on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the French foreign office said France also wanted a clause on a special meeting in 2006 to avoid a woolly counter-declaration and to ensure that it would actually be followed up.