ISTANBUL - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Wednesday pledged to step up efforts to persuade Germany's conservative opposition to drop their objections to the mainly Muslim country joining the European Union.
Apart from Berlusconi, Turkey's EU bid has drawn strong backing from German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, but many Turks worry that possible early general elections in Germany later this year could bring to power the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), an opponent of Ankara's membership.
The CDU argues that Turkey is not fit for full membership and advocates instead a special status, widely referred to as a "privileged partnership".
Berlusconi told reporters here after talks with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan that his centre-right Forza Italia party was discussing the issue with the CDU within the European People's Party (EPP), the largest party in the EU parliament to which both belong.
"In my speeches, I have always underlined one point: countries should disregard their own specific interests and act in line with the common interest of Europe as a whole," the Italian leader said through a translator.
He said his party would pursue talks with the CDU and vowed Italy's continuing support to Turkey.
"The European Union would like to see a great country such as Turkey -- a country which is on the border of Europe and which is a gate to the east -- as a part of itself," he added. "We will not stray from this path."
Turkey is scheduled to start accession talks with the EU on October 3.
Berlusconi was in Istanbul to watch the Champions League final Wednesday between Italy's AC Milan, of which he is the honorary president, and Liverpool of England.
05/25/2005 15:40 GMT