"EU: PERA CALLS FOR STEP BACK ON TURKEY TALKS
(AGI) - Ankara, Feb. 21 - Faced with EU accession talks for Turkey senate speaker Marcello Pera called for parties to forego using the issue for the purposes of brownie pointing. "I believe it would improper for political divisions on such a matter to revert to internal politics. Turkey's accession talks are historic and should not be used as domestic political capital and I hence wish to stress my calls for greater efforts on behalf of the EU and Turkey to address issues head during negotiations head on". Marcello Pera highlighted the fact that the EU is living through a time of "internal divisions. We are right in the middle of ratifying the Constitution, given which negotiations with Turkey must stand as a hindrance. Asked whether Turkish membership could be a contentious issue Pera said: "there is an issue of European identity. But if we seriously commit to the process of enlarging the Union I am certain we can tackle any issues at hand. Europe is struggling with issues of identity, foreign power, US relations and the start of Turkish accession talks should be yet another occasion for us to think things over". Questioned by a Turkish journalist over Cyprus Pera said paid tribute to "Turkey's efforts to solve the issue by committing to Kofi Annan's disengagement plan, by preparing for a future referendum, and by its bilateral agreements with the ten new EU Member states. Turkey's future membership makes Cyprus an EU problem. I think the EU should have mustered the foresight to deal with this matter when Cyprus' joined the Union". (AGI) . "
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