Italian P.M. Says It Would Be Historic Mistake If E.U. Says No To Turkey

ROME (CIHAN) - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told the Turkish leading Sabah daily that it would be historic mistake if the EU fails to give Turkey a date to open accession talks.
Italian Prime Minister, staunches proponent of the Turkey's EU membership aspiration said in his interview with Sabah daily that he has been Turkey's passionate and stubborn advocate in Europe. "I am not tired of voicing our support for Turkey's EU membership."
EU leaders are due to meet in December to decide whether Turkey, a candidate country since 1999, has made enough progress on human rights and political freedoms for the initiation of the long-delayed accession talks with the EU.
The European Union pledges to open accession talks with Turkey without delay if Turkey fulfills the Copenhagen political criteria, the final joint declaration of the Brussels EU leaders' summit stated two weeks ago.
Italian Prime Minister said that Turkey's EU membership would be interest of the European Union. "The EU should not disappoint the expectation of the Turkish people.
"Turkey will contribute great to the EU. Turkey is country connects Europe and Asia. It will be strategic and historic mistake to close the doors of the European Union to Turkey which is one of the main member of the NATO."
Berlusconi, close friend of the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan, praised the Turkish government for his ambition and success in adoption of the EU-inspired reforms.
German Prime Minister last week voiced views in parallel line with the Italian Prime Minister. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder said on Wednesday that Germany and France had reached a consensus on the opening of accession talks with Turkey if the EU Commission report on Turkey was positive.
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 in December whether to open accession talks with Turkey or not. Recent signals from the EU have underlined that the actual implementation of the EU reforms in Turkey will be crucial.