Turkey Won't Accept Any New EU Criteria

[maddezmom]

ISTANBUL, Turkey - Turkey's prime minister said the country will not not agree to any new conditions for European Union membership, adding that Turkey expects "honest politics" as it begins negotiations to join the bloc.

The EU has already imposed tough conditions on Turkish membership. Turkey must recognize Cyprus before the talks open in October, show progress on Kurdish rights, improve the economy and limit the military's influence in politics. Ankara is also expected to treat ethnic and religious minorities equally and implement penal code reforms.

Still many European voters are balking at letting in the poor, predominantly Muslim country of 70 million people, a decision that would extend the EU's borders to Syria and Iran.

EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said this week that the bloc should have an open debate about Turkey's candidacy. The country is scheduled to start membership negotiations with the EU on Oct. 3.

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more: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050626/ap_on_re_mi_ea/turkey_eu_1

[bennywhale]

1. "The EU has already imposed tough conditions on Turkish membership"

What, like "stop torturing people" "Stop killing and oppressing Kurds" and "Treat female witha bit of respect"

Real hard cases those Europeans.

[mom cat]

2. You know how picky those French can be:

:sarcasm: