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1/23/07

AKI: TURKEY: ITALY'S PRODI RENEWS SUPPORT FOR ANKARA'S EU BID


For the complete report in AKI click on this link

ITALY'S PRODI RENEWS SUPPORT FOR ANKARA'S EU BID

Italian prime minister Romano Prodi on Monday reiterated Italy's support for Turkey's bid to join the European Union, describing it as a "long-term objective." "One cannot mix a problem of such magnitude with the immediate interests of politicians," Prodi said following talks in Ankara with Turkish prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Two other key EU leaders, German chancellor Angela Merkel, and French interior minister and presidential candidate, Nicolas Sarkozy have both said they oppose Turkey joining the EU. Prodi said Turkey should pursue its EU goals with "patience and coherence", through "serious and thorough" negotiations. However he warned that Turkey must accept reforms set by the EU in order to achieve membership and become a "resource for Europe".

Erdogan speaking at a joint news conference with Prodi after their meeting thanked the Italian premier for Italy's backing for Turkey's EU ambitions.

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