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Turkish Leader Demands Full EU Membership
 Turkey's prime minister said Saturday the mostly Muslim nation will only accept full membership in the European Union, warning Austria's ambassador to drop talk about an associate partnership in the group. The EU foreign ministers meet Sunday in Luxembourg to discuss Austria's insistence that Turkey be offered something less than full membership in the 25-nation EU, calling into question whether the bloc will open accession talks with the mostly Muslim nation on Monday, also in Luxembourg.Austria has claimed to be speaking in the name of the majority of Europeans in saying it does not want Turkey as a full member. But Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Austria its proposal was not an option, Turkish media said. Increasing diplomatic pressure, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul also urged European leaders to keep their promises and open talks next week on Turkey joining the union, warning that the country will accept no new conditions. Posted by: Fred 2005-10-02 |
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