United States Lobbies To Support Turkey's E.U. Membership

WASHINGTON D.C. - The United States has been pursuing a ''sophisticated'' lobby activity on the highest level including President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell in a bid to support Turkey's European Union (EU) membership.
Diplomatic sources in Washington D.C. told the A.A on Wednesday that the United States had been supporting Turkey's EU membership process from the very beginning, and had a ''legitimate interest'' in Turkey's future position.
Sources recalled that the United States took action in critical moments in favor of Turkey like its initiative at the EU's Helsinki Summit in 1999.
The United States has been supporting Turkey's EU membership process clearly and consistently, and launching initiatives to this end with a more clever and sophisticated attitude, sources said.
They added that President Bush, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of State Powell held talks with their European counterparts for Turkey.
(UK-AÖ) 06.10.2004