| Sweden gives full backing for Euro bid |
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ANKARA - The continuation of negotiations is more important than just looking at the number of policy chapters opened in Turkey’s European Union ascension, according to the EU’s new term president Sweden’s ambassador in Ankara.
"Sweden will continue to support Turkey until the day it becomes a full member of the EU. Excluding Turkey from the EU would be a great strategic mistake," said Christer Asp.
State Minister and Turkey's Chief EU Negotiator Egemen Baðýþ on Wednesday hosted a coordination meeting in Ankara to discuss what Turkey can do in its EU bid during the Swedish presidency of the EU, which started Wednesday. Speaking to the Anatolia news agency, Asp said they were ready to open all policy chapters, adding that the policy chapters remaining to be opened were the most difficult ones, emphasizing the importance of fulfilling the criteria. Touching on programs on the state-run TRT 6 channel that broadcasts in the Kurdish language, Asp said the channel would smooth some tensions and eradicate problems regarding minority rights in the country. Sweden took over the EU’s rotating presidency from the Czech Republic on Wednesday. It will hand over the presidency to Spain on January 1, 2010. Turkey wishes to open chapters on the environment and competition during Sweden’s term presidency.
Speaking at the meeting, Baðýþ said Turkey should be ready for an appointment with the EU at any time. The EU journey is not an easy one, but no country that began negotiations with the union that did not end in entry talks, according to Baðýþ. Noting that not only some opposition groups in Turkey but also some political intrigues in the EU may try to prevent Turkey from fulfilling its EU full membership bid, Baðýþ said: "Turkey will never give up its EU target." |
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