EU To Open Entry Talks With Turkey Without Delay If Reforms Completed

BRUSSELS (CIHAN) - The European Union pledged to open accession talks with Turkey without delay if Turkey fulfills the Copenhagen political criteria, the final joint declaration of the EU leaders` Summit said on Friday.
The Turkish Prime Minister said on Friday that Turkey was hoping to commence accession talks with the European Union in March 2005.
"The EU Council welcomes the Turkish government`s determined steps to meet the EU Copenhagen political criteria," the final declaration of the EU leaders summit said.
The EU-inspired reforms adopted by Turkey were praised by the EU Council which also advised Turkey to complete its legislative reform process and to speed up the implementation of its EU reforms.
The joint declaration also asks Turkey to strengthen its justice system, to expand religious freedom and freedom of expression, along with cultural rights, and to raise civilian-military relations to European standards. The EU Council advises Turkey to continue with its program of economic stability.
Despite persistent pressure from Turkey with support from Italy and the UK, the EU Council did not remove the 26th paragraph of the joint communiqué. However, the EU Council decided to adopt milder language in the paragraph using the word `advise` instead of `call on` in relation to the signing of a Customs Union agreement with the Greek Cypriot Administration
The EU Council praised Turkey for its constructive attitude on the solution of the Cyprus conflict.
The EU leaders will decide at the end of 2004 whether to open membership talks with Turkey, which has long been waiting to enter the affluent bloc.
The EU Commission is expected to issue a progress report on Turkey in October. The report will be the basis for the EU leaders` decision on whether to open accession talks with Turkey or not. Recent signals from the EU have underlined that the actual implementation of the EU reforms will be crucial.