ANKARA, Dec 15 (AFP) - Turkey will freeze its EU membership bid if it is presented with unacceptable conditions at an upcoming summit in Brussels, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said here Wednesday.
"We do not expect any unacceptable conditions to be put before us, but if such conditions are imposed... we will definitely put the matter in the refrigerator and continue on our way," Erdogan told reporters at Ankara airport.
He was speaking shortly before his departure for Brussels, where he is to attend a critical summit Thursday and Friday at which EU leaders will decide whether and under what conditions to start accession talks with Turkey.
Erdogan said Turkey's bid to join the European Union was part of a "civilization project" that the Western-oriented Muslim nation would pursue even if it fails to integrate with the bloc.
"We want to move this project forward together with the European Union... but if unacceptable conditions are put forward, I have to openly say that this will not be the end of the world.
"We will continue on our way, because Turkey is strong enough to shoulder this task," Erdogan said.
12/15/2004 14:37 GMT - AFP