TURKEY & EU OPEN NEGOTIATIONS
Written by Brussels journalist David Ferguson

Euro-reporters.com, Belgium
Oct 4 2005

“We’ve just made history,” said UK Foreign Minister Jack Straw
opening negotiations with Turkey on EU membership. Delayed by over
six hours due to persistent objections by Austria, negotiations
with the predominantly Muslim country were formally opened early this
morning. Speaking alongside Straw was European Enlargement Commissioner
Olli Rehn and Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.

“I was always confident to reach an agreement for 3 October. It is
essential for us to keep our commitments. This is what we have done
now and will do in the future. We are starting a new era with Turkey,”
said Rehn.

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul arrived late on Monday night,
only after Austria’s claim to a clause on an alternative ‘privileged
partnership’ had been removed: “The most important thing is that
Turkey has received a full membership perspective and there is no
alternative,” said Gul. “When the time comes we will become full
members, We will overcome the obstacles and we are not the only ones
with problems. This will be worth the effort,” said Gul.

Turkey, a Muslim country of 72 million people, has been trying to
enter the European Union, and its predecessors, for over 40 years.

Objections included the state of human rights, treatment of ethnic
and religious minorities such as the Kurds, and Ankara’s refusal
to recognize the Republic of Cyprus or the Armenian genocide. EU
negotiations are expected to last at least 15 years.

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