OBERHAUSEN (CIHAN) - The Chairwoman of the German Christian Democrat Union Angela Merkel said on Saturday Turkey`s full EU membership was not thought.
Merkel said that the EU-Turkey relations should undergo in a special way but Turkey could not be thought as full EU member.
Attending her party`s EU parliamentary elections campaign in Germany city of Oberhausen, Angela Merkel said that Turkey could not be acceded to the European Union as full member.
German Christian Democrats generally oppose Turkey`s EU membership and favor a privileged statue for Turkey instead of full membership due to their fear of Turkey`s huge population and its cultural difference.
Turkey is hoping to open entry talks with the European Union (EU) at the end of 2004, and has adopted a series of EU harmonization packages, including political and economic criteria, to meet membership requirements. The Turkish Parliament has adopted 8 EU harmonization packages in the last two years and abolished capital punishment in order to comply with EU standards.
Merkel recalled that the promise to accept Turkey to European Union as full members was given in 1963. "But it should bore in mind that the Union has transformed drastically. We want to carry out friendly relations with Turkey."
Ruling out Turkey`s EU membership even in future, Merkel said that special relation with Turkey could be formed instead. In relation to the Turkish immigrants in Germany,. Merkel said that the fourth generation of German citizens of Turkish origin should learn German well and should adapt to Germany. " They have to obey the rules in Germany even if the rules contradict with their culture, norms and even with their mosques."
Nearly 3 million Turkish people inhabit in Germany.