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Releases
José Manuel Barroso
No. 81/05
October 03, 2005
DECLARATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
JOSE MANUEL BARROSO, ON THE OPENING OF ACCESSION NEGOTIATIONS WITH
TURKEY
"Today is a milestone in the relationship between the European Union
and Turkey.
"A stable, modern and democratic Turkey is an objective we should support
actively in the European Union and in Turkey. This is why we are starting
negotiations.
"Of course the road towards Turkey’s accession will be long and difficult.
Accession, as for every country, is neither guaranteed nor automatic.
"The negotiations must be fair and rigorous. On behalf of the European
Commission I can guarantee this will be the case. Turkey must be treated
in the same way as all other candidates. And it must strictly respect the
requirements for democracy, human rights and rule of law if it is to join
the club.
"Europe must learn more about Turkey. And Turkey must win the hearts and
minds of European citizens. They are the ones who at the end of the day
will decide about Turkey’s membership.
"Turkey must be given a fair chance to demonstrate that it is capable of
meeting all conditions for accession.
"I hope it will. An open dynamic Turkey is in the interest of a European
Union capable of assuming fully its responsibilities in the world."
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