Talks over Turkey’s proposed admission to the European Union remain in crisis as foreign ministers, including Britain’s Jack Straw, failed to dissipate Austria’s adamant opposition to grant full membership to Turkey.

|PIC1|Following a private meeting with Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik and a telephone call with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Mr Straw said it was “by no means certain” that negotiations for Turkey would begin Monday as planned.

“We are at a difficult stage in these negotiations and I cannot say what the outcome will be,” he said.

The deadlock has been badly received by Turkey who regard the delays as betrayal according to the BBC’s Istanbul correspondent Sarah Rainsford.

Prime Minister Erdogan warned that the EU must embrace its Muslim neighbour “or it will end up a Christian club”.

Mr Straw warned similarly against a “theological-political divide, which could open up even further down the boundary between so-called Christian-heritage states and those of Islamic heritage.”

Austria refuses to agree to full membership for Turkey, insisting instead on “privileged partnership” for the predominantly Muslim country. If Austria’s complaint is accepted |TOP| it will mean a complete re-writing of the draft framework for entry talks, which currently holds that only full membership is the ultimate aim of any talks.

It is unlikely, however, that the Turks will agree to start entry talks for “privileged partnership”.

The BBC quoted a recent opinion poll that suggested more than 70 per cent of Austrians oppose full Turkish membership of the EU.

Turkey has been a long time associate of the EU and has introduced numerous reforms to meet EU standards of human rights before beginning accession talks.