WASHINGTON D.C. (AA) - Scott McClellan, spokesman of U.S. President George W. Bush, said on Friday that the U.S. administration welcomed the decision of the EU to open full membership negotiations with Turkey on October 3rd, 2005.
Holding a press conference, McClellan congratulated Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish government and the EU presidency.
Stressing that Turkey's full integration into the EU would be beneficial to both Europe and the world, McClellan said that Turkey's 150-year experience including epoch-making reforms like foundation of a secular democracy in a mainly Muslim society, constituted a great model for people in broader Middle East region who wanted freedom, justice and prosperity.
Upon a question about the United States' opinion on Cyprus, McClellan said that the United States had been extending full support to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's efforts to provide a solution in the island.
McClellan added that Annan's plan, which was approved by Turkish Cypriots in the referenda on April 24th, had still been on the table without any change.
(UK-MS)
2004-12-17