LISBON, Oct 26 (AFP) - Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio said Tuesday the European Union should set a date to start accession talks with Turkey at its December summit, arguing the move would help the large Muslim country reinforce its secular nature.
"The possibility of the enlargement of the EU to include Turkey, even if it is in 20 years, is a promising venture of mutual interest," he said during a speech at a conference on the future of Europe.
"On the one hand it would reinforce the national consensus regarding the secular nature of the Turkish state while on the other hand it would certainly contribute, in the turbulent world which we live in since September 11 (the 2001 attacks on US targets), for a better perception of Europe in Muslim nations."
Earlier this month the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, said that Turkey had fulfilled the required democracy norms and recommended the beginning of accession talks.
European leaders will decide on December 17 whether to heed the commission's recommendation and set an agenda for talks on Turkey's eventual admission into the 25-member union.
Sampaio added objections to Turkish membership based on the fact that the country is largely Muslim had to be overcome.
"The entrance criteria have been clearly defined for a long time now and they are the same for all candidates so neither preferable nor discriminatory treatments are admissable," he said.