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Merkel Hints at a Change of Heart for Turkish Membership in E.U. Merkel Hints at a Change of Heart for Turkish Membership in E.U.
(35 minutes later)
BERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany has called for the opening of “a new chapter” in talks between Turkey and the European Union amid signals of decreasing resistance from her center-right party about Ankara’s eventual membership in the bloc.BERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany has called for the opening of “a new chapter” in talks between Turkey and the European Union amid signals of decreasing resistance from her center-right party about Ankara’s eventual membership in the bloc.
Ms. Merkel said ahead of her departure on Sunday for a two-day visit to Turkey that she would address the issue of the stalled negotiations in her meetings with Turkish leaders, but she stressed that she remained skeptical about Turkey’s readiness to join the European Union. Ms. Merkel said before leaving Sunday for a two-day visit to Turkey that she would address the issue of the stalled negotiations in her meetings with Turkish leaders, but she stressed that she remained skeptical about Turkey’s readiness to join the European Union.
“I think a long negotiating path lies ahead of us,” Ms. Merkel said in her weekly podcast, broadcast on Saturday. “I agreed with the continuation of membership discussions. We are engaging in these with an open result.”“I think a long negotiating path lies ahead of us,” Ms. Merkel said in her weekly podcast, broadcast on Saturday. “I agreed with the continuation of membership discussions. We are engaging in these with an open result.”
Turkey has complained about Berlin’s lack of support for its campaign, which began in 2005. Negotiations have all but ground to a halt over crucial issues, including human rights and the status of Cyprus, where Turkey occupies the northern part of the island. Turkey has complained about the German government’s lack of support for its campaign, which began in 2005. Negotiations have all but ground to a halt over crucial issues, including human rights and the status of Cyprus, where Turkey occupies the northern part of the island.
“In recent times, negotiations stalled somewhat, and I am in favor of opening a new chapter in order to move forward,” Ms. Merkel said.“In recent times, negotiations stalled somewhat, and I am in favor of opening a new chapter in order to move forward,” Ms. Merkel said.
France has also resisted the idea of Turkey’s full membership and, along with Cyprus and the European Commission, has blocked certain key steps necessary for membership.France has also resisted the idea of Turkey’s full membership and, along with Cyprus and the European Commission, has blocked certain key steps necessary for membership.
But President François Hollande of France signaled last week that he was ready to restart talks on one chapter blocked by the government of his predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy.But President François Hollande of France signaled last week that he was ready to restart talks on one chapter blocked by the government of his predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy.
Ms. Merkel’s government and her center-right Christian Democratic Union have called for the European Union to give Turkey a “privileged partnership” with the bloc instead of full-blown membership. But key party members have begun to indicate their apprehensions may be changing. Ms. Merkel’s government and her Christian Democratic Union have called for the European Union to give Turkey a “privileged partnership” with the bloc instead of full-blown membership. But crucial party members have begun to indicate their apprehensions may be changing.
Ruprecht Polenz, an ally of Ms. Merkel’s and an expert in international affairs, told said in remarks to the Berliner Zeitung newspaper on Saturday that it was “clear to most people in my party that the idea of ‘privileged partnership’ is defunct.” Ruprecht Polenz, an ally of Ms. Merkel’s and an expert in international affairs, said in remarks to the Berliner Zeitung newspaper on Saturday that it was “clear to most people in my party that the idea of ‘privileged partnership’ is defunct.”
Turkey is one of Germany’s most important trade partners outside of the European Union, with an annual exchange of goods worth about $40 billion a year. Turkey pushed through structural changes to its economy and social services nearly a decade ago as part of its efforts to join the European block, which have helped contribute to solid economic growth of about 5.2 percent annually between 2002 and 2011, according to figures released by the Turkish government. Turkey is one of Germany’s most important trade partners outside of the European Union, with an annual exchange of about $40 billion in goods. Turkey pushed through structural changes to its economy and social services nearly a decade ago as part of its efforts to join the European bloc, which have helped contribute to solid economic growth of about 5.2 percent annually between 2002 and 2011, according to Turkish government figures.
Günther Oettinger, a member of the Christian Democrats who now serves as the energy commissioner for the European Union, stirred a debate in Berlin last week when he said in an interview with the Bild newspaper that the bloc would regret delaying membership to Turkey.Günther Oettinger, a member of the Christian Democrats who now serves as the energy commissioner for the European Union, stirred a debate in Berlin last week when he said in an interview with the Bild newspaper that the bloc would regret delaying membership to Turkey.
“I’d like to bet that within the next decade, a German chancellor along with their colleagues from France will go begging on their knees to Ankara saying, ‘Friends come to us,’ ” Mr. Oettinger said.“I’d like to bet that within the next decade, a German chancellor along with their colleagues from France will go begging on their knees to Ankara saying, ‘Friends come to us,’ ” Mr. Oettinger said.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey said in Istanbul he was hopeful that Ms. Merkel’s and Mr. Hollande’s remarks meant that talks could be renewed before July, when Ireland is to give up the European Union’s rotating presidency. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey said in Istanbul that he was hopeful that Ms. Merkel’s and Mr. Hollande’s remarks meant that talks could be renewed before July, when Ireland is to give up the European Union’s rotating presidency.
“Since Ms. Merkel came to office, she has repeatedly used the expression ‘privileged partnership’ about our European Union process,” Reuters quoted Mr. Erdogan as saying on Saturday. “Yet when Germany had the rotating presidency, we were still able to secure the opening of certain chapters.”“Since Ms. Merkel came to office, she has repeatedly used the expression ‘privileged partnership’ about our European Union process,” Reuters quoted Mr. Erdogan as saying on Saturday. “Yet when Germany had the rotating presidency, we were still able to secure the opening of certain chapters.”
“Now there is change in France and a difference in the views of Germany and France,” Mr. Erdogan said. “Along with Chancellor Merkel’s positive statement on opening chapters, these will pay off during Ireland’s presidency.”“Now there is change in France and a difference in the views of Germany and France,” Mr. Erdogan said. “Along with Chancellor Merkel’s positive statement on opening chapters, these will pay off during Ireland’s presidency.”
Ms. Merkel began her tour on Sunday with a visit to German troops who are deployed along the Turkish border with Syria, operating Patriot missiles as part of a NATO-led mission to prevent the Syrian civil war from spilling over into Turkey. Ms. Merkel began her tour on Sunday with a visit to German troops deployed along the Turkish border with Syria. On Monday, she will hold talks in Ankara with Mr. Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul.
She will hold talks in Ankara, the Turkish capital, with Mr. Erdogan and President Abdullah Gül on Monday.