European Conservatives Shed Green Light To Turkey

BRUSSELS (AA) - Leaders of European conservative parties who convened in Belgium prior to EU Summit stated they support EU's starting membership negotiations with Turkey.
     Leaders, including Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende of the Netherlands which holds rotating EU presidency, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi and Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis, said that they support start of entry talks with Turkey within the scope of some derogations.
     European People's Party (EPP) Turkey Rapporteur Wolfgang Schussel, on behalf of all conservative leaders, said, ''the green light which is shed to Turkey is accompanied by many conditions and Turkey's full membership will not be accepted before 2014.''
     Conservatives said that they give up privileged partnership proposal for Turkey and stated, ''it is necessary to assure the protection of Turkey-EU ties if entry talks cannot reach a result.''
     Balkenende said, ''I am optimistic despite the difficulties. We are on good path.''
     (GC-MS)
2004-12-16