19:41, 12 May 2009 | GMT +5
Turkish president criticizes French and German leaders being against of accepting Ankara to EU
ANKARA. MAy 12. KAZINFORM. Turkish President Abdullah Gul criticized German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy who were against of accepting Ankara to the European Union (EU) as a full-member, RIA Novosti reported; Kazinform refers to Trend News.

Speaking recently in Berlin after talks with Sarkozy, Merkel expressed support for granting Turkey the status of a privileged partner of the EU rather than full membership, which Ankara seeks.
The French president supported the German Chancellor and noted that the EU should abandon the practice of giving the empty promises to Turkey and concentrate on establishing its joint economic and cultural area. Earlier, Sarkozy also was against accepting Turkey to the EU, at the same time, he invited Turkey to join the Mediterranean Union - economic organization uniting the countries of the region.
Negotiations on Turkey's EU membership were launched in 2005. Experts forecast Ankara can become a full member of the European Union within 10-15 years.
"We are determined to continue the negotiations with the EU," the Turkish president said at a news conference with his Portuguese counterpart; Kazinform cites Trend News. See
news-en.trend.az for full version.