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EU Decision Can Not Change Turkey's Route: PM

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  • EU Decision Can Not Change Turkey's Route: PM

    EU DECISION CAN NOT CHANGE TURKEY'S ROUTE: PM

    People's Daily Online, China
    Oct 3 2005

    Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that any
    EU decision can not change Turkey's route.

    Erdogan made the remark as Britain, which currently holds a six-month
    rotating EU presidency, has called an emergency meeting of EU foreign
    ministers in Luxembourg on Sunday to end the bickering over the
    guiding principles of Turkey's accession talks.

    "Targets for the future of Turkey are not indexed onto Oct. 3 or any
    other date. Turkey fulfilled its responsibilities prior to Oct. 3,"
    Erdogan told a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party
    (AKP).

    Turkey's entry talks are scheduled to start on Oct. 3. EU foreign
    ministers must agree on a negotiating mandate for Turkey to begin
    talks at the Sunday emergency meeting, less than 10 hours away from
    the scheduled negotiation date.

    "Now it is the test time for the EU. Regardless of any decision,Turkey
    will take its own decision. This decision will never affect or cease
    structural reforms, democracy and human rights.

    Because Turkey fulfilled all of these to establish its prosperous
    future,"Erdogan said.

    "The picture which will appear on Oct. 3 will be determinant for
    the future of the EU, more than future of Turkey. The EU will either
    decide to be a global actor or accept to be a Christian club," he said.

    "Turkish government's policy reached success regarding Cyprus issue.

    Now, nobody lays the blame on Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern
    Cyprus (TRNC) regarding insolubility," he said.

    EU leaders agreed last December that Turkey had carried out necessary
    reforms on human rights, society and economy, which qualify Ankara
    for official EU membership talks.

    But strains flared anew after Ankara reaffirmed in July its refusal to
    recognize the Republic of Cyprus, which joined the EU on behalf of the
    whole island. Ankara recognizes the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north.

    Turkey has come under pressure to admit what Armenians call a genocide
    against their people by the Ottoman Empire during and at the end of
    World War I -- an event that remains highly sensitive for Turks.
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