As the European Union's longest summit ends Turkey is not referred to in any
document which means Ankara's membership of the 'club' is still a distant
possibility
 

Dec 11, 2000
Ankara - Turkish Daily News

The European Union summit ended in Nice with a disappointing result for Turkey as
the final statement of the summit made no mention of the country. Against a
background of optimism, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit became the first Turkish
premier in history to attend an EU summit. Unfortunately, the conclusion has caused
anger and disappointment.

Turkey was not among the 12 candidate countries named at the EU Nice Summit.
Dubbed as `the scandal document' by Turkish media, the summits conclusion seems
to have left Turkey worse off than after the Helsinki Summit, where Turkey was
declared a candidate after years of wrangling. Turkey was not recognized as a
candidate nor were any future possibilities of membership mentioned.

Ecevit, in a tone which downplayed the Nice conclusions, stated that what really
mattered was Turkey's preparation for eventual membership and making sure that
the necessary reforms were achieved. Ecevit stressed that if the necessary reforms
were effected swiftly Turkey would be a member sooner than expected. Referring to
the EU Luxembourg Summit which excluded Turkey from candidacy, Ecevit said,
"During that period the mood was one of pessimism. I told my friends that the EU
would ask us to be a candidate and it happened. There is no need for pessimism
now."

French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine, of the term presidency holder France,
mentioned at a press conference that Turkey's situation was different to that of other
countries. He stressed that while other candidates had commenced membership
negotiations, Turkey had not done anything since the Helsinki Summit.

According to the document circulated at the end of the summit Turkey was not
incorporated in the reorganized EU of 2010. In the final statement the reference to
2010 was omitted but once again there was no reference to Turkey. Vedrine was
expected to make an official statement regarding Turkey's omission but no statement
was made.
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The Kurdistan Observer
www.kurdistanobserver.com

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