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Turkey's prime minister said the country will not
not agree to any new conditions for European Union
membership, adding that Turkey expects "honest
politics" as it begins negotiations to join the
bloc.
The EU has already imposed tough conditions on
Turkish membership. Turkey must recognize Cyprus
before the talks open in October, show progress on
Kurdish rights, improve the economy and limit the
military's influence in politics. Ankara is also
expected to treat ethnic and religious minorities
equally and implement penal code reforms.
Still many European voters are balking at letting in
the poor, predominantly Muslim country of 70 million
people, a decision that would extend the EU's
borders to Syria and Iran.
EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said
this week that the bloc should have an open debate
about Turkey's candidacy. The country is scheduled
to start membership negotiations with the EU on Oct.
3.
"Turkey is not ... renegotiating anything," Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters late
Saturday. "If you impose new things on countries
from one day to the next, especially at a time when
negotiations are about to start, that would not be
right, " he added. "We are used to honest politics,
that's what we expect and want."
Concerns about Turkey's membership were highlighted
by the recent rejection of the EU's proposed
constitution by French and Dutch voters, many of
whom cited Turkey's bid as the reason they cast
ballots against the charter.
Erdogan praised British Prime Minister Tony Blair,
who this week urged the EU to continue expanding.
Blair warned that shutting the door to new members
would give rise to nationalism and xenophobia in
Europe.
"In politics, I like those who have a backbone ... I
don't like the rest," Erdogan said.
News Agencies
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