ANKARA, Oct 2 (AFP) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that his country's drive to join the European Union will dominate his talks with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder during a brief visit to Berlin.
"Of course, the (European Commission's) progress report set for October 6 will undoubtedly be one of the main issues in our talks," Erdogan said here in brief comments before leaving for Germany.
"We hope to come back with some new advantages for our country," he added.
The October 6 report will evaluate the progress Turkey has achieved in embracing EU norms and make a recommendation on whether EU leaders should decide to open membership talks with Ankara at a December 17 summit.
Turkey claims that it has fulfilled the required political criteria to begin such talks and says it deserves a firm date.
Erdogan is scheduled to hold talks with Schroeder on Sunday before a joint press conference with the German leader.
He will later receive Die Quadriga award from the German non-governmental organisation Werkstatt Deutschland for his efforts in trying to draw Turkey closer to the European Union.
The Turkish prime minister will also meet Turkish businessmen in Germany before returning later Sunday.