WASHINGTON D.C. - The United States extended support to Turkey's request from the European Union (EU) to set a date for beginning of full membership negotiations.
A high-level official from U.S. President George W. Bush's administration stated for the first time that the U.S. government supported EU's setting a date for beginning of full membership negotiations with Turkey.
The official who declined to be identified told the A.A correspondent, ''Turkey has taken a very important step on the path leading to the EU full membership by approving the EU reforms package. The EU will decide whether or not Turkey has fulfilled the Copenhagen criteria and whether or not it will set a date for beginning of full membership negotiations with Turkey. We are not a member of the EU. It means that we do not take place in the decision-making mechanism of the EU. However, we support the EU's setting a date for beginning of full membership negotiations with Turkey.''
Sources said that Washington administration was expected to recommend the EU to set a date.
The United States expressed its support to Turkey during Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal's visit to Washington D.C.