BILDT HOLDS OUT THE PROSPECT OF FURTHER NEGOTIATION BETWEEN TURKEY AND EU AREAS BEING OPENED

/PanARMENIAN.Net/
17.06.2009 19:28 GMT+04:00

"The door of the European Union is open," Swedish Foreign Minister
Karl Bildt told Reuters in an interview.

"There have always been significant voices saying no more, let’s
deepen instead of widen, but at the end of the day when European
democracies knock on the door of the union of European democracies,
the door has been open."

EU countries agreed unanimously in 2005 to start talks with Turkey on
full membership, but the bloc is deeply divided on the issue. France
and Germany have revived calls to offer the Muslim country a
"privileged partnership" rather than full membership.

The success of parties opposed to Turkey’s membership in this month’s
European Parliament election also dealt a fresh blow to the Muslim
country’s EU bid.

Bildt, a supporter of Turkey’s membership quest, said he held out
the prospect of further negotiation areas, or chapters, being opened
during Sweden’s six-month presidency.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress