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Schroeder Urges Turkey to Implement Key Reforms Prior to EU Talks
By VOA News
Voice of America
May 4 2005
Turkish PM Tayyip Erdogan, right, and German Chancellor Gerhard
Schroeder shake hands prior to a meeting in Ankara
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has urged Turkey to press ahead
with key reforms demanded by the European Union prior to accession
talks set for October.
Speaking after talks with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
in Ankara Wednesday, Mr. Schroeder repeated EU demands that Turkey
sign a document extending its customs accord to the bloc's 10 members
admitted last year. The demand is a key requirement before Turkey
opens EU membership talks.
Some EU members say the action would be considered de facto Turkish
recognition of the Greek-led government of Cyprus. Ankara has
repeatedly denied this.
Mr. Schroeder also backed a proposal by Mr. Erdogan to create a joint
Turkish - Armenian commission to study allegations the Ottoman Turks
committed genocide against Armenians during World War I.
By VOA News
Voice of America
May 4 2005
Turkish PM Tayyip Erdogan, right, and German Chancellor Gerhard
Schroeder shake hands prior to a meeting in Ankara
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has urged Turkey to press ahead
with key reforms demanded by the European Union prior to accession
talks set for October.
Speaking after talks with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
in Ankara Wednesday, Mr. Schroeder repeated EU demands that Turkey
sign a document extending its customs accord to the bloc's 10 members
admitted last year. The demand is a key requirement before Turkey
opens EU membership talks.
Some EU members say the action would be considered de facto Turkish
recognition of the Greek-led government of Cyprus. Ankara has
repeatedly denied this.
Mr. Schroeder also backed a proposal by Mr. Erdogan to create a joint
Turkish - Armenian commission to study allegations the Ottoman Turks
committed genocide against Armenians during World War I.