"Barroso urges Turkey to go extra mile on EU talks
16.12.2004 - 15:45
By Zerin Elci and Paul Taylor
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission president has urged Turkey to 'go the extra mile' to show
Europeans it is ready for EU membership talks as the bloc prepared to approve them despite misgivings by many EU
voters.
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan lobbied EU leaders intensively hours before the start of a crucial st mmit,
urging them not to set discriminatory conditions and to open the doors of the bloc to a non-Christian nation.
Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on Thursday it was up to Turkey to demonstrate it was fit to join
the club, notably by recognising Cyprus, something Ankara has so far refused. But he voiced confidence EU leaders
would agree a date to open talks.
'The challenge for Turkey is to win the hearts and minds of those European citizens who are open to, but not yet fully
convinced of, Turkey's European destiny,' Barroso said."
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