This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/8592170.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
EU row sours Merkel's Turkey trip | EU row sours Merkel's Turkey trip |
(about 7 hours later) | |
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has arrived in Turkey for an official visit overshadowed by disagreements over Ankara's plans to join the EU. | |
Mrs Merkel opposes full EU membership for Turkey, which began negotiations to become a member in 2005. | Mrs Merkel opposes full EU membership for Turkey, which began negotiations to become a member in 2005. |
There are also disagreements over the education of Turkish children in Germany in the Turkish language. | There are also disagreements over the education of Turkish children in Germany in the Turkish language. |
Germany is Turkey's biggest trading partner, and nearly three million Turks live in Germany. | Germany is Turkey's biggest trading partner, and nearly three million Turks live in Germany. |
Turkey's sometimes fraught relationship with the European Union won't be helped by this visit. | Turkey's sometimes fraught relationship with the European Union won't be helped by this visit. |
After months of avoiding the subject, Chancellor Merkel has chosen this moment to revive her idea of offering Turkey what she calls a privileged partnership with the EU, rather than full membership. | After months of avoiding the subject, Chancellor Merkel has chosen this moment to revive her idea of offering Turkey what she calls a privileged partnership with the EU, rather than full membership. |
Mrs Merkel has stressed that she does see integration as possible in up to 28 of the 35 so-called chapters of EU law with which Turkey has to comply before it can become a full member of the union. | Mrs Merkel has stressed that she does see integration as possible in up to 28 of the 35 so-called chapters of EU law with which Turkey has to comply before it can become a full member of the union. |
But her proposal has been firmly rejected by the Turkish government as a breach of the terms agreed when membership negotiations began five years ago. | But her proposal has been firmly rejected by the Turkish government as a breach of the terms agreed when membership negotiations began five years ago. |
'Insulted' | 'Insulted' |
"Such a thing as privileged partnership does not exist," said Egemen Bagis, Turkey's minister for European affairs. | "Such a thing as privileged partnership does not exist," said Egemen Bagis, Turkey's minister for European affairs. |
"So we do not take that option seriously because there is no legal foundation of it. At times I feel insulted for being offered something which does not exist." | "So we do not take that option seriously because there is no legal foundation of it. At times I feel insulted for being offered something which does not exist." |
The chancellor does have plenty of other topics to discuss here, including Iran's nuclear programme. | The chancellor does have plenty of other topics to discuss here, including Iran's nuclear programme. |
Turkey has recently strengthened its relations with Iran and opposes the tougher sanctions threatened by Western governments. | Turkey has recently strengthened its relations with Iran and opposes the tougher sanctions threatened by Western governments. |
But their differences over EU membership will cast a shadow over any common ground they do find during this visit. | But their differences over EU membership will cast a shadow over any common ground they do find during this visit. |