TURKISH OFFICIAL: EU NEGOTIATIONS "MAY BE TOUGHER" AFTER MERKEL TAKES POWER
By Louis Meixler
The Associated Press
10/10/05 10:51 EDT
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - A top Turkish legislator said that EU
negotiations "may be tougher" after Germany's Angela Merkel takes
power, but cautioned that she will rule in a coalition government
which should reduce her ability to take any strong action to limit
Turkey's EU aspirations.
Merkel has repeatedly spoken out against Turkey's ambitions to enter
the European Union, saying the country should be offered a partnership
and not full membership.
Turkey started accession talks with the EU earlier this month, but
faces strong opposition in several countries.
"The fact that they have to share ... will lead to the possibility that
she will balance what she says," Mehmet Dulger, head of parliament's
foreign affairs committee, told The Associated Press.
Turkey's aspirations for EU membership were a key issue in German
elections with incumbent Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder backing
membership and challenger Merkel favoring a partnership without
full membership.
Merkel said Monday that she had reached a deal that will make her
Germany's first female chancellor in a power-sharing agreement with
Schroeder's Social Democrats, which will retain control of several
ministries, including the foreign ministry.
"I think that the level of the pressure that Germany will try to
exert on Turkey will not be as high as if Madame Merkel has a strong
majority. That would have been very serious. But the existence of
the Social Democrats in parliament will give some balance," he added.
Turkish accession talks are expected to last for some 10 to 15 years
and membership is not guaranteed at the end of those talks. Many
European countries have serious reservations toward accepting the poor,
overwhelmingly Muslim country.
"Negotiations may be tougher" with Merkel in power, he said, adding
that even if Merkel were not in office "the negotiations will be tough,
everybody is aware of that."
By Louis Meixler
The Associated Press
10/10/05 10:51 EDT
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - A top Turkish legislator said that EU
negotiations "may be tougher" after Germany's Angela Merkel takes
power, but cautioned that she will rule in a coalition government
which should reduce her ability to take any strong action to limit
Turkey's EU aspirations.
Merkel has repeatedly spoken out against Turkey's ambitions to enter
the European Union, saying the country should be offered a partnership
and not full membership.
Turkey started accession talks with the EU earlier this month, but
faces strong opposition in several countries.
"The fact that they have to share ... will lead to the possibility that
she will balance what she says," Mehmet Dulger, head of parliament's
foreign affairs committee, told The Associated Press.
Turkey's aspirations for EU membership were a key issue in German
elections with incumbent Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder backing
membership and challenger Merkel favoring a partnership without
full membership.
Merkel said Monday that she had reached a deal that will make her
Germany's first female chancellor in a power-sharing agreement with
Schroeder's Social Democrats, which will retain control of several
ministries, including the foreign ministry.
"I think that the level of the pressure that Germany will try to
exert on Turkey will not be as high as if Madame Merkel has a strong
majority. That would have been very serious. But the existence of
the Social Democrats in parliament will give some balance," he added.
Turkish accession talks are expected to last for some 10 to 15 years
and membership is not guaranteed at the end of those talks. Many
European countries have serious reservations toward accepting the poor,
overwhelmingly Muslim country.
"Negotiations may be tougher" with Merkel in power, he said, adding
that even if Merkel were not in office "the negotiations will be tough,
everybody is aware of that."
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