German Chancellor Angela Merkel meets with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on February 25, 2013.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has held talks with Turkey’s leaders over Ankara’s bid to join the European Union (EU).
On Monday, Merkel met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul in the Turkish capital, Ankara, on the second and final day of her visit to the country.
Ahead of her trip, the German chancellor had said she was skeptical about Turkey’s membership in the European bloc.
“Although I am sceptical, I have approved the continuation of the membership discussions,” Merkel had stated, adding, “These negotiations have stalled a little recently and I am in favour of opening a new chapter in these talks so we can advance.”
On Sunday, she paid a visit to German troops deployed to operate advanced NATO Patriot missile batteries in Turkey, near the Syrian border.
Germany, along with France, has been opposed to Turkey’s membership in the European Union. It has instead offered “privileged membership,” rather than the full version.
Turkey, which straddles Asia and Europe, entered formal membership talks with the European Union in 2005, but reluctance among some EU states on the matter has slowed the process to a near standstill.
Ankara has also criticized the EU for apathy toward the country’s application to join the 27-nation bloc on many occasions.
MKA/JR
