Schröder: EU’s turn to honor its promise
Talking exclusively to Hürriyet’s Ertuğrul Özkök in Berlin, German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has pledged that he will do his best to back Turkey’s EU bid, adding that Turkey has travelled a long distance since December 17, 2004 – when a date for the opening of accession talks was officially given by the EU. “Turkey has fulfilled all its promises,” Schröder said, “Now it is time we honour ours.” Schröder also pointed out that the negotiation period will be no easy task: “It goes without saying that the negotiation will take a long time, and both parties can bring it to a halt if they want to. Therefore there is no reason either of the parties should be afraid.” When asked about the allegation that he has "silenced" his backing for Turkey’s membership fearing it might damage his party in the upcoming elections, Schröder was vehement: “I do not know where people are getting these ideas – I have not reconsidered my stance on Turkey’s membership. The negotiation talks will start on October 3.”
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