ISTANBUL (CIHAN) - German Prime Minister Gerhard Schröder reiterated his support to Turkey's EU aspiration by saying that it is time for Europe to fulfill its 41-year old promise to Turkey.
Gerhard Schröder told a press conference today that Turkey showed great self-confidence on its path to EU membership. "It is time for the EU to keep its promise to accept Turkey as a EU member."
Turkey has been waiting to open accession talks with the European Union since 1963.
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 last Friday.
French President Jacques Chirac said on Tuesday that the EU would give Turkey a date to open accession talks if the EU Commission progress report on Turkey is positive.
The French President told a press conference that he personally believes that there is no stepping back from Turkey's integration into the European Union. "If the EU Commission reports on Turkey will is positive in September, then EU leaders will open the accession talks with Turkey," Chirac said.