ANKARA, Dec 30 (AFP) - Turkey's National Security Council, the country's top consultative body, called on the European Union Thursday not to impose any conditions on Ankara when it starts membership talks with the bloc next year.
At a historic summit on December 16-17, EU leaders agreed to opening accession talks with Turkey on October 3, but attached a series of tough conditions for the populous Muslim nation.
Among them is a demand for Turkey to sign a key diplomatic accord seen by some as amounting to de facto recognition of Cyprus, and possible permanent restrictions in the future on the free movement of Turkish nationals in the bloc.
The National Security Council welcomed the firm date set by European leaders for the start of accession talks, but underlined that the summit conclusions also contained some "negative elements".
"The council notes the importance of carrying out (membership) negotations without any discrimination or conditions against Turkey," it said in a statement, without elaborating.
The council was once the most powerful institution in Turkey through which the military wielded powerful influence on domestic politics, but has since had its wings clipped through EU-minded reforms.
It has been transformed into a think tank where civilians outnumber the military almost 19 to one and which, since October, has a civilian -- rather than a general -- as its secretary-general.
12/30/2004 17:35 GMT - AFP