No change in Turkey's position regarding its EU bid: official

There was no change in Turkey's position regarding its EU bid, semi-official Anatolia News Agency reported on Monday.

While the EU foreign ministers meeting continued in Luxembourg, a meeting headed by Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul was also held in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the developments in Luxembourg were evaluated, diplomatic sources were quoted as saying.

Turkish State Minister and Chief Negotiator for EU negotiations Ali Babacan also attended the meeting, according to the diplomatic sources.

There was not even a slightest change in the position of Ankara, and no draft text regarding the negotiating framework document was sent to Ankara following the end of the EU General Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg.

"If the EU overcomes the problems within itself and if a text is sent to Ankara following the meetings in Luxembourg on Monday, the text will be assessed technically and politically," said the diplomats

According to them, Turkey's Gul had phoned British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn, telling them Turkey would not accept anything less than full membership in the union.

Foreign ministers of European Union (EU) countries convened in Luxembourg Sunday night to discuss the negotiating framework document regarding Turkey's EU accession talks.

The ministers failed to reach a compromise as a result of the demand of Austria to include "privileged partnership" in the document. EU General Affairs Council will meet again on Monday morning.

EU leaders agreed at a summit last December to start membership talks with Turkey.

Source: Xinhua