Schroeder: The key to full EU membership in Turkey's hands

German Prime Minister Gerhard Schroeder on an official state visit to Turkey, said yesterday that the key to Turkey's full EU membership lay not in the hands of others, but with Turkey itself. Arriving in Ankara after a visit to Bosnia, Schroeder spoke for a while with journalists."It has been settled that discussions with Turkey will begin on October 3, 2005. The discussions will start after Turkey signs the extra protocol agreements, and brings about some of the other pre-requisites set out by the EU." Schroeder made it clear that before the start of the discussions, there are responsibilities carried by both the EU and Turkey. Recalling that Turkey had made many deep rooted reforms in the last few years, Schroeder said "It is not possible to expect that the society will accept reforms which require a change in mentality over a few days. We experience that in Germany too." Schroeder underlined that if Turkey continues the reforms that have been started, and is able to maintain their implementation, it would take its place within the EU. Said Schroeder, "Everything is in Turkey's hands. Not in the hands of others." Gul goes to meet SchroederSchroeder was met by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul yesterday at Ankara's Esenboga Airport. Later he went to meet Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for dinner. Â