"EU, Turkish Officials, Discuss Ankara�s Membership Bid
Voice of America, December 7, 2004
The European Union has discussed with Ankara some of its requirements for beginning membership negotiations with Turkey.
The European Affairs Minister of the Netherlands, Atzo Nicolai, discussed the proposed conditions with Turkey's Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul Tuesday in Ankara.
The conditions are featured in a draft final statement for next week's EU summit, where EU leaders will decide whether to begin membership talks and under what conditions.
A Dutch government official told VOA that Turkey would have to show it is implementing six laws on judicial issues, including a ban on torture, before membership talks can begin.
The official also said the European Union expects Ankara to recognize the government of the divided island of Cyprus before the talks can start. Turkey currently recognizes the northern Turkish-dominated part of the island. "
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