BERLIN - A delegation of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) wrapped up its contacts in Berlin on Friday.
AK Party Sakarya deputy Saban Disli said that he asked German Christian Democrat Union (CDU) politicians not to make Turkey's EU membership an election tool.
Parliamentarians Ahmet Yasar, Saban Disli, Reha Denemec, Zekeriya Akcam and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's chief adviser Cuneyt Zapsu wrapped up their contacts in Berlin.
AK Party delegation came together with Turkish reporters in a dinner hosted by Conrad Adenauer Foundation.
Disli told reporters that they met with CDU leader Angela Merkel and stated, ''Merkel said that she believes Turkey's EU membership should not be made an election tool.''
Stating that a decision on setting up a working group with CDU was taken during Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Berlin at the beginning of September, Disli said that this issue was also brought onto the agenda during his contacts in Berlin.
Disli said that they discussed Turkey's EU membership and problems of Turkish people living in Germany.
Stating that CDU politicians had different opinions about Turkey's membership to the Union, Disli said, ''some of them support it and some of them don't due to elections.''
Disli said that they expected a delegation of CDU to come to Turkey on October 15.
AK Party deputy leader Reha Demec said that all German politicians whom they met said that if reforms were put into practice in Turkey, they would not prevent Turkey on its path to the EU.
AK Party delegation is expected to return to Turkey on Saturday.
(EÖ-BRC) 27.09.2003