[Shannon]

PM sees hope for EU bid in German poll results:

ANKARA - Turkish Daily News


Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan yesterday welcomed the success of German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's campaign to deny a clear victory to opposition conservative Angela Merkel, who is against Turkey's full membership in the European Union.

"I want to say that Schroeder led a campaign which in my opinion succeeded," Erdoğan said. Turkey's aspirations for EU membership became a key issue in the elections, with Schroeder backing membership and Merkel favoring a "privileged partnership." Turkey is scheduled to begin its accession negotiations with the bloc on Oct. 3.

"It was a campaign that proved how negatively an offer for privileged partnership instead of full EU membership for Turkey was received," said Erdoğan, referring to Merkel's election campaign, which was based on opposition to Turkey's full entry prospects. "Frankly, this surprise result ... should lead politicians to reconsider” their policies, he added. Erdoğan expressed hope that a "positive result for the European process" would emerge from the German elections.


http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/a...?enewsid=23873