Belgian F.M. Says Negotiations With Turkey Should Be Opened

BRUSSELS (AA) - Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht reiterated on Saturday that the Belgian government favored opening accession negotiations with Turkey within 2005.
     During a panel discussion in which ''factors like culture, identity and religion during Turkey's European Union (EU) accession process'' were discussed at the European Parliament (EP), De Gucht said that the only target of the negotiations should be full membership.
     Referring to secularism, European security, regional power and location of Turkey, De Gucht said that Turkey's accession would be advantageous to the EU in this regard.
     Noting that the EU should assume a clear attitude towards Turkey on December 17th, De Gucht said that negotiations would take some time, and time was needed for solution of Cyprus problem.
     (BRC)
2004-12-05