"'Fear of Turkish EU-membership is unfounded'
Turkish ambassador denounces 'European ambiguity'
by Johan Huizinga, 16 december 2004
The public and political debate on Turkey and the European Union has intensified a great deal as the time for a crucial decision on EU membership draws near. EU-leaders are meeting in Brussels to decide whether to start membership talks with Turkey. However, they face growing doubts and fears in many member states. Turkey's ambassador in The Hague, Tacan Ildem, thinks lack of information is one of the main reasons.
Ambassador Tacan Ildem previously served as his country's most senior diplomatic representative in Washington and Brussels and can therefore be accurately described as a true diplomatic heavyweight. It was no coincidence that he was posted to The Hague more than a year ago, for it was known that, under the Dutch presidency, EU leaders would have to decide on Turkey's European ambitions."
More:'Fear for Turkish EU-membership is unfounded'