Historic Turkey-EU deal welcomed
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The European Union's decision to hold entry talks with Turkey receives a widespread welcome.
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(BBC) -- The European Union enlargement chief has voiced satisfaction with Turkey&#39;s reforms as Ankara presses for formal negotiations on its EU membership bid.
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Germany and France offered a ringing endorsement for Turkey's eventual membership of the European Union at a bilateral summit, as French President Jacques Chirac brushed aside doubts about Paris's backing.
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Turkey declared it had fulfilled all the political criteria for membership talks with the European Union on Sunday, three days before a recommendation from the EU&#39;s executive that will give Ankara a green light.
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Speaking after meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Straw said that he was pleased the European Commission had recommended the European Union open accession talks with Ankara.
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Germany and France offered a ringing endorsement for Turkey&#39;s eventual membership of the European Union at a bilateral summit, as French President Jacques Chirac brushed aside doubts about Paris&#39;s backing.
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The White House on Friday warmly welcomed a hard-fought deal between the European Union and Turkey that sets the stage for Ankara to start EU entry talks next year.
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BRUSSELS, Dec 16  - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed Thursday the EU&#39;s &quot;positive&quot; approach to its bid to start membership talks, but said sticking points remain ahead of a crunch summit.
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Tony Blair has hailed the deal to begin accession talks with Turkey as &quot;an immensely significant day for Europe&quot;. As he left the summit, he said the agreement showed that âthe fact that Turkey is a Muslim
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The European Union and Turkey struck  an historic deal on Friday to start talks next year on  admitting the vast Muslim nation to the bloc after last-minute  haggling over Ankara's relationship with EU member Cyprus.
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Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gulon Wednesday defined the recommendation of the European Commission(EC) to open negotiations with Turkey as a historic step
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German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has hailed his Turkish counterpart as a &quot;great reformer&quot;, while promising support for the country&#39;s EU bid.
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European Union leaders struck a hard-fought deal securing Turkish promises on the divided island of Cyprus in return for Ankara winning the historic prize of a start to EU entry talks.
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Turkey on Wednesday praised the  conciliatory tone of Pope Benedict during his visit to the  predominantly Muslim country and his apparent new support for  Ankara's bid to join the European Union.
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Turkey has agreed to a deal which will allow talks on EU membership to commence after agreeing to formally acknowledge Cyprus. The main sticking point had been over Turkey&#39;s failure to formally recognise Cyprus.
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The European Union and Turkey struck  an historic deal on Friday to start talks next year on  admitting the vast Muslim nation to the bloc after last-minute  haggling over Ankara's relationship with Cyprus.
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EFES, Turkey  - Turkey on Wednesday praised the conciliatory tone of Pope Benedict during his visit to the predominantly Muslim country and his apparent new support for Ankara's bid to join the European Union.