TURKEY: EU leaders will discuss Turkey's aspiration to join the EU when they meet in Copenhagen next month. Ankara has been pressing for a date for the start of negotiations but some European governments believe Turkey needs further political and economic reform before the process of joining the EU can begin.
The European Union has given a cool response to the outcome of Sunday's election in Turkey. The European Commission stopped short of welcoming the victory of the religious, conservative AKP but promised to work with the new government.
"The Commission takes note of the outcome of the democratic elections that took place in Turkey and is ready to co-operate with the new government. It also takes note that the two parties that will be represented in the Grand National Assembly have clearly indicated that they want to pursue a pro-European policy. The Commission expects Turkey to confirm its commitments to reforms in order to comply with the EU-accession criteria," the Commission said in a statement.
A Commission spokesman insisted yesterday that the change of government would not affect the criteria Brussels applies to Turkey in assessing its readiness to start negotiations.
"What counts is deeds, not words," he said.
The EU needs Turkey's co-operation if it is to end the division of Cyprus before the island joins the EU in 2004. And Europe needs Ankara's approval if the EU Rapid Reaction Force is to be allowed to use NATO military assets for its operations.
The German government said yesterday that it expected Turkey's new government to adopt a pro-European stance.
A positive reaction to the election result came from Greece, age-old rivals to Turkey. The election winner, Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leader of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), was telephoned by the Greek Prime Minister, Mr Costas Simitis, to be congratulated during a 15-minute conversation. Speaking at a press conference Mr Erdogan said he had been invited to Greece by Mr Simitis and intended to go within seven to 10 days.
He also indicated that he and fellow AKP leaders wanted to visit other EU capitals, ahead of the EU December summit in Copenhagen, to talk to government leaders about Turkey's membership bid.
The Greek leader was sending two officials to Ankara to work out the details of the visit, Mr Erdogan said. Athens on Sunday called on the next government to resolve the problem of the divided island of Cyprus. - (Additional reporting Reuters, AFP)