"EU opens the door to Turkey
For more than four decades, European leaders have held out to Turkey the prospect of membership in their club. The odds that Turkey would join Europe shortened considerably last week, when officials from the European Union and Ankara agreed to commence discussions on Turkish membership next October. Membership is not a done deal, however. Turkey must continue its reforms and close the social and ideological gaps that separate it from Europe.
Most important, it must win over European public opinion and allay concerns about the impact of Turkish membership on the EU. Success will pay dividends far beyond those felt in the states most immediately affected: Turkey's accession to the EU will help silence those who claim there is a 'clash of civilizations' between the Western and Muslim worlds."
More:The Japan Times Online
