Erdogan: When We Reach Standards Of Other E.U. Countries, E.U. Will Approve Our Membership

ANKARA - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday, ''when we reach standards of other European Union (EU) member countries, the EU will approve our membership.''
Prime Minister Erdogan received a group of students of Istanbul's Altunizade Hafize Ozal Primary School.
When asked by a student ''when will Turkey enter the EU?'' Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''Turkey's efforts to become a member of the EU started 41 years ago. Today, we have reached a significant stage.''
''We hope that the entry talks between Turkey and the EU will begin after December 17th, 2004. During the talks, Turkey and the EU will discuss human rights, economic issues and political criteria. When we reach standards of the other EU-member countries, the EU will approve our membership. Therefore, I cannot give a firm date for Turkey's entry (into the EU). We will have the occasion of holding talks with heads of state and government of EU countries in December. Everything will become clearer by then,'' Erdogan added.
(UK-ULG) 08.10.2004