Turkey to stick to own terms over EU entry talks

Turkish parliament head Bulent Arinc has said that Turkey will continue to stick to its own terms, no matter whether the European Union (EU) decides to open membership talks.

Arinc made the remarks as Britain, which currently holds a six-month rotating EU presidency, has called an emergency meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Sunday to end the bickering over the guiding principles of Turkey's accession talks.

Arinc said at a reception to mark a new parliamentary term late Saturday that he will meet with his Austrian counterpart Andreas Khol in Ankara on Oct. 3.

Turkey's entry talks are scheduled to start on Oct. 3. EU foreign ministers must agree on a negotiating mandate for Turkey to begin talks at the Sunday emergency meeting, less than 24 hours away from the scheduled negotiation date.

Austria, a member of the 25-member bloc, insists that the ministerial talks aim for a "privileged partnership" with Turkey instead of full membership.

Ankara rejects any second-class treatment. Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has warned that the Turkish government did not think Turkey should join the EU in this case.

Gul said that Turkey conveyed all messages to the EU, "We are going to see whether they (EU countries) are reliable or not."

"There is not a new development regarding the issue. Talks continue with ministers and prime minister," he said.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday, expressing his support to Turkey's EU membership talks.

EU leaders agreed last December that Turkey had carried out necessary reforms on human rights, society and economy, which qualify Ankara for official EU membership talks.

But strains flared anew after Ankara reaffirmed in July its refusal to recognize the Republic of Cyprus, which joined the EU on behalf of the whole island. Ankara recognizes the breakaway Turkish Cypriot north.

Turkey has come under pressure to admit what Armenians call a genocide against their people by the Ottoman Empire during and at the end of World War I -- an event that remains highly sensitive for Turks.

Source: Xinhua