Turkish leaders to meet ahead of EU membership ruling

ANKARA, Dec 3 (AFP) - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer called for a mini-summit Tuesday of the country's top civilian and military leaders to discuss Turkey-EU ties ahead of a key EU summit later this month, a spokesman said Friday.
Spokesman Sermet Atacanli told reporters that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and General Hilmi Ozkok, the chief of general staff, would attend the meeting presided by Sezer at the Cankaya presidential palace here.
"We expect (on December 17) a fair decision that will take into consideration our country's expectations in the light of the efforts it has made" to become a full member of the European Union, Atacanli said.
Ankara has recently rejected suggestions that it be given a special partnership status instead of full membership.
EU heads of state and government are due to give Ankara a green light to start negotiations to join the 25-nation bloc during their summit in Brussels on December 16 and 17.

12/03/2004 11:39 GMT - AFP