Turkish, German leaders confident of EU green light for Ankara
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Turkey&#39;s prime minister expressed confidence that the European Union&#39;s executive will recommend opening talks for his Muslim-majority country&#39;s membership this week, saying Sunday that admitting Turkey to the union would contribute to &quot;reconciliation
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Chancellor Angela Merkel will highlight  the robust economic and human ties between Germany and Turkey  on a visit this week, but also deliver a firm message to Ankara  on its troubled bid to join the European Union.
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Turkey was expected to insist on the unconditional backing of European Union powerhouses Germany and France for its bid to join the bloc at three-way talks, amid signs Paris is hedging its bets.
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On the eve of the two-day European Union summit that opens in Brussels today and will define the future of Ankara&#39;s EU aspirations, it still remained unclear yesterday what terms leaders of the 25 member states would set out regarding Turkey&#39;s relations
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German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said Friday he was sure the EU would start membership talks with Turkey next October 3, after leaders agreed a compromise accord clearing the way for the negotiations.
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Tony Blair is on course to take charge of historic negotiations designed to pave the way for Turkish membership of the EU after European leaders last night gave the green light to accession talks.
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Despite widespread public opposition, the European Union&#39;s political leaders said late Thursday that Turkey had made sufficient progress in political and economic reforms
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After more than 40 years at Europe&#39;s doorstep, Turkey Tuesday eagerly awaited the European Commission&#39;s green light to begin membership talks with the European Union -- but with some strings attached.
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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's  executive that will give Ankara a green light.
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Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was confident Thursday that Turkey could cope with the stringent conditions imposed by an EU report on his country&#39;s membership bid in the bloc, as the media celebrated a &quot;historic&quot; turning point in the nation&#39;s 40-year
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Nothing more stands in the way of Turkey&#39;s bid to join the EU. Both sides have cleared up their differences. But are the irritations between Brussels and Ankara really dispelled?
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The European Commission voiced support for Turkey&#39;s bid to join the EU Friday and expressed hope for a &quot;positive outcome&quot; at a summit next week, but warned that recognition of Cyprus is crucial to Ankara&#39;s hopes.
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If all goes to plan, EU heads of government will agree over dinner on Thursday night to give Turkey the green light to start membership talks in the autumn of 2005.
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EU leaders were poised on Thursday to  set a date to start accession talks with Turkey, as Turkish  Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Brussels in an  optimistic mood for a spate of last-minute diplomacy.
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German newspapers on Thursday commented on Turkey coming a step closer to fulfilling a 40 year old dream after the European Commission recommended that the EU begin membership talks with Ankara.
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The European Union presidency yesterday expressed optimism that a deal could be struck over Turkey&#39;s refusal to recognize Cyprus in the lead-up to next weekend&#39;s EU summit, which will decide whether to give Ankara a date for the start of accession talks.
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The German, French and Turkish leaders are holding a special three-way meeting in Berlin, with Turkish EU membership expected to be a key issue.