04-16-2007, 12:23 PM
http://www.tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411749/1065940
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Turkey EU entry "will take time"</b>
Apr 16, 2007
Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday that negotiations for Turkish entry to the European Union would take a long time.
She signalled that it was impossible to proceed any faster after Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan criticised Germany for not doing more to speed things up.
"It has always been said that the overall process will be a long one and the outcome is open," Merkel told reporters at a joint news conference with Erdogan.
Erdogan's visit to Germany follows weeks of criticism from Turkey and anger that representatives from Ankara were not invited to recent EU anniversary celebrations in Berlin.
Germany, home to a large Turkish immigrant community, took over the EU's rotating presidency in January.
Erdogan told a German magazine shortly before his two-day visit that Germany could have done more to push on with Turkey's EU membership talks during its leadership of the bloc.
"I seriously expected more from Germany," Erdogan was quoted as telling Der Spiegel news magazine. He called for a clear timetable for Turkish membership and said "2014 or 2015" would be a realistic and possible date.
Speaking through an interpreter, Erdogan told reporters on Sunday: "We must be patient."
<b>Privileged partnership</b>
Merkel's coalition government supports Turkish EU membership but the German leader has told her own Christian Democrat (CDU) party that she personally opposes full membership. Instead she favours a "privileged partnership" for Turkey within the bloc.
Since becoming chancellor, she has stuck to the line agreed with her coalition partners, the Social Democrats (SPD), to continue talks with Turkey.
Merkel stressed on Sunday that one chapter had been closed in the 35 policy areas due to be discussed. A second had been opened and a further two could possibly be opened by the end of the German presidency in June.
In the magazine interview, Erdogan also objected to the decision not to invite Turkey to celebrations last month to mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome.
Merkel said on Sunday that the event had been organised in 2006 before Germany took over the presidency.
Both leaders stressed the importance of Turkey's relations with Germany given the millions of people of Turkish descent who live in the country. Merkel called for better integration of Turkish-speakers into German society.
The two leaders were due to open a trade fair in the northern German city of Hanover later on Sunday. Turkey was Germany's 16th most important export partner in 2006, soaking up around $14 billion euros (NZ$25.6 billion) worth of German exports.
Source: Reuters<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Turkey EU entry "will take time"</b>
Apr 16, 2007
Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Sunday that negotiations for Turkish entry to the European Union would take a long time.
She signalled that it was impossible to proceed any faster after Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan criticised Germany for not doing more to speed things up.
"It has always been said that the overall process will be a long one and the outcome is open," Merkel told reporters at a joint news conference with Erdogan.
Erdogan's visit to Germany follows weeks of criticism from Turkey and anger that representatives from Ankara were not invited to recent EU anniversary celebrations in Berlin.
Germany, home to a large Turkish immigrant community, took over the EU's rotating presidency in January.
Erdogan told a German magazine shortly before his two-day visit that Germany could have done more to push on with Turkey's EU membership talks during its leadership of the bloc.
"I seriously expected more from Germany," Erdogan was quoted as telling Der Spiegel news magazine. He called for a clear timetable for Turkish membership and said "2014 or 2015" would be a realistic and possible date.
Speaking through an interpreter, Erdogan told reporters on Sunday: "We must be patient."
<b>Privileged partnership</b>
Merkel's coalition government supports Turkish EU membership but the German leader has told her own Christian Democrat (CDU) party that she personally opposes full membership. Instead she favours a "privileged partnership" for Turkey within the bloc.
Since becoming chancellor, she has stuck to the line agreed with her coalition partners, the Social Democrats (SPD), to continue talks with Turkey.
Merkel stressed on Sunday that one chapter had been closed in the 35 policy areas due to be discussed. A second had been opened and a further two could possibly be opened by the end of the German presidency in June.
In the magazine interview, Erdogan also objected to the decision not to invite Turkey to celebrations last month to mark the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome.
Merkel said on Sunday that the event had been organised in 2006 before Germany took over the presidency.
Both leaders stressed the importance of Turkey's relations with Germany given the millions of people of Turkish descent who live in the country. Merkel called for better integration of Turkish-speakers into German society.
The two leaders were due to open a trade fair in the northern German city of Hanover later on Sunday. Turkey was Germany's 16th most important export partner in 2006, soaking up around $14 billion euros (NZ$25.6 billion) worth of German exports.
Source: Reuters<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->