ANKARA (AA) - Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said on Tuesday that Turkey should insist on full membership to EU without taking into consideration other alternatives such as 'special status.'
Addressing his party's parliamentary group, Baykal said that the result of the referendum in France carried great importance for Turkey and Europe and that Turkey's EU bid would be influenced by the new political dynamics in Europe.
''The result obtained in France is a consequence of its own economic and political problems. Turkey has been added to the agenda (of the referendum) in an improper way and the issue has been politically manipulated. France is not successful in its human rights and freedoms test.''
''The thing that matters for us is Turkey's decisiveness in its EU bid. We should insist on Turkey's full membership to the EU by defending our acquired rights and we shouldn't take into consideration other alternatives like special status,'' Baykal added.
He stressed that Europe, whose population would increase by 20 million in the middle of this century, needed Turkey very much.
''Turkey wants to join the EU because it has a big market economy, dynamism and rich culture. Those who don't appreciate that, can't be successful in attaining their own goals too,'' Baykal commented.
(֓-ULG)
2005-05-31