German chancellor, Turkish PM discuss relations, EU membership
By Valery Litvinenko

ITAR-TASS News Agency
May 4, 2005 Wednesday 3:05 PM Eastern Time

ANKARA, May 4 — Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and German
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder have discussed bilateral, political,
economic and cultural relations and the outlook for Turkey’s admission
to the European Union.

Schroeder arrived in the Turkish capital on a two-day working visit
on Tuesday.

The HaberTurk television channel has said Erdogan and Schroeder also
raised the problem of Cyprus and the theme of genocide of Armenians
in the Ottoman Empire. Schroeder supported Turkey’s position on the
issue of settlement in Cyprus and promised that Germany would back
any steps by Ankara aimed at improving relations with Armenia.

The German chancellor spoke highly of Ankara’s efforts geared to
securing its admission in the E.U. He said Turkey had complied with
all of its commitments to the European Union.

Later in the day Schroeder will be received by Turkish President
Ahmet Necdet Sezer. The schedule of the German chancellor’s visit
also includes participation in the Turkish-German business forum in
Istanbul and a meeting with Patriarch Bartholomew, of Constantinople.