ANKARA - German Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Angela Merkel has said that there were several supporters also in the European Union (EU) of a ''privileged partnership status'' which she offered to Turkey. Merkel attended a forum on ''Future of Europe'' organized by the Conrad Adenauer Foundation in Ankara on Monday.
Noting that as the CDU, they were currently not supporting Turkey's full EU membership, Merkel defended that privileged partnership status would be more appropriate to Turkey during such a critical period which the EU was going through.
Stating that European politicians sometimes gave Turkey several promises but they ''spoke very differently when Turks went away'', Merkel said that they did not want to be persons who did not keep their promises.
Stressing that Turkey had carried out very successful studies on fulfillment of the Copenhagen criteria, Merkel said that Turkey did those for the benefit of its people not to please Europe.
Noting that her words would be remembered when she would come to Turkey next year, Merkel said giving wrong promises to people caused disappointment.
Stressing that content and sort of accession talks with Turkey were very important in case they started with Turkey, Merkel said that the point whether those talks would be negotiations on full membership or negotiations on privileged partnership was also very important.
Noting there could be some restrictions on agriculture, free movement of people and transfer of sovereignty rights under privileged partnership which she offered for Turkey, Merkel said Europe required Turkey in fields of defense and security so there could be much intense cooperation between Turkey and the EU in those fields.
(MS) 16.02.2004