"Barroso cautions against mixing up Turkey with EU constitution
Thursday, January 13, 2005
He says Turkey�s membership is a separate matter that should be debated on its own terms
ANKARA � Turkish Daily News
President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso said yesterday issues such as Turkey's membership in the European Union should not �contaminate� the debate over the first-ever Constitution of the European Union.
Barroso's warning came in interviews with four European newspapers just before the European Parliament approved the EU Constitution in a vote. The historic Constitution needs to be ratified in national Parliaments or in a public referendum in a number of member countries as well. In France, the government is worried that public opposition to Turkish membership could put the vote on the Constitution at risk. French President Jacques Chirac pledged a separate referendum on Turkey's membership once Turkey completes accession talks in 10 to 15 years time."
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