Merkel: The Important Thing For Us Is That Negotiations With Turkey Are Open-ended

BERLIN - ''The important for our party is that the entry talks with Turkey would be open-ended,'' said German Christian Democrat Party (CDU) leader Angela Merkel on Monday.
Holding a news conference in Berlin, Merkel said, ''privileged partnership proposal by our party is supported very much in Europe. I am pleased with that. EU leaders seem to take decision in line with the recommendation of the European Commission. I cannot tell when negotiations would start and end. The important for our party is that the entry talks with Turkey would be open-ended.''
Noting, ''I appreciate reform efforts in Turkey,'' Merkel said, ''however it is not the only important thing to fulfill the Copenhagen criteria. EU should also be in a situation to accept new members. Even with current 25 members, we do not have a completely functioning Europe.''
(GC-MS)
15.11.2004 - 16:39:00