BRUSSELS, Dec 15 (AFP) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Brussels late Wednesday ahead of an EU summit widely expected to give Ankara a green light to start membership negotiations with the bloc.
Erdogan warned before leaving Ankara that Turkey would freeze its 40-year dream of joining the European Union if it is presented with unacceptable conditions by EU leaders at a summit due to start Thursday evening.
EU leaders are likely to give the go-ahead for accession talks, but Ankara fears tough conditions attached to the decision will lead not to full membership but an alternative status of a "privileged partnership."
The idea for special status is being pushed by some EU members who believe this vast, predominantly Muslim country is not fit for full-fledged integration with the bloc.
12/15/2004 19:54 GMT - AFP