Rasmussen: E.U. Gave A Positive Message To Turkey

COPENHAGEN - Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the EU Copenhagen summit host, said that the EU gave a positive signal to Turkey at the summit, but this should not be considered a guarantee.
Speaking after the summit, Rasmussen said that a joint decision had been taken on what the next step in Turkey's EU process would be, and that the commission would take the decision on beginning of negotiations and membership.
Noting that a positive message had been given to Turkey within this framework at Copenhagen summit, Rasmussen said that fulfillment of the Copenhagen political criteria completely by Turkey was very important.
Rasmussen added that a comprehensive agreement had been reached with the NATO on the European Security and Defense Policy.
Meanwhile, EU Commissioner Guenter Verheugen for enlargement said that the current commission would prepare the progress report for Turkey, which was advantageous for Turkey.
Verheugen said that the reform package alone was not important, and that the important thing was implementation.
Within this framework, the new Turkish government had willingness, Verheugen said, and added that issues like torture and political prisoners should be solved.