BRUSSELS, Dec 16 (AFP) - Herewith a selection of key quotes on the prospect of Turkey's accession to the European Union ahead of an EU summit Thursday:
"There seems to be a 'yes' coming." -- Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, chairing the EU summit as current holder of the EU's rotating presidency.
"You cannot change the rules of the game half way through." -- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, rejecting any new conditions. "If such (unacceptable) conditions are imposed... we will definitely put the matter in the refrigerator and continue on our way."
"The European Council (of EU leaders) welcome the decisive progress made by Turkey in its far-reaching reform process and reiterate its determination to enable Turkey to join the European community of values." -- draft summit conclusions.
If Turkey joins the EU "it is the end of the European Union. Turkey is a nation close to Europe and an important country... but it is not a European country." -- former French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing, who drafted the EU's first-ever constitution.
"It is essential that we foresee an alternative to full membership." -- Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, whose country is along with Cyprus openly against Turkey's EU membership.
"After Turkey's accession the EU will not easily be able to pursue the current farm and regional policy. Europe would implode." -- former EU agriculture commissioner Franz Fischler.
"We want to see an economically successful, democratic Turkey anchored in Europe and that would deal a heavy blow to those who stoke up mistrust and division and it could be an inspiration to many others in the Muslim world" -- British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.
"When we say membership negotiations we mean membership negotiations and not anything less than that." -- German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, rejecting alternatives to the prospect of full EU entry for Turkey.
"America believes that as a European power, Turkey belongs in the European Union... Your membership would also be a crucial advance in relations between the Muslim world and the West, because you are part of both." -- US President George W. Bush to Turkish leaders at a NATO summit in Istanbul in June.
"Not only did he go too far, he ventured into territory which is not his concern." -- French President Jacques Chirac's response to Bush's comments, adding that it was "like me telling the United States how to run its affairs with Mexico."
12/16/2004 13:31 GMT - AFP