Brussels, 25/11/2004 (Agence Europe) - After a meeting on Wednesday in The Hague with president of the Council of the EU, Bernard Bot, his successor from Luxembourg, Jean Asselborn, the Dutch minister of European affairs, Atzo Nicolaai and Commissioner for enlargement Olli Rehn, the Turkish foreign affairs minister, Abdullah Gul informed the press that he was confident that the European Council on 17 December would reach an "objective and impartial decision" on beginning Turkish accession negotiations. According to Gul, the exchange of views that he had just had with The Hague on questions such as the situation in the Caucasus, Iraq and Iran would have a positive impact on the European Council's decision. Bernard Bot said that he had received very positive reactions from some Member States on opening accession negotiations but that "many Member States still have doubts about certain issues". Ankara will still have to make progress on implementation of six laws (involving criminal proceedings and freedom of association and religion), warned the president of the Council, who also hoped that before beginning negotiations with Ankara, the question of non-recognition of Cyprus by Turkey would be resolved.
In Thursday's edition of the Figaro, the president of the European Convention Valéry Giscard d'Estaing affirmed that, "the European Constitution had not been conceived with a view to accommodating a power of Turkey's size…It is not simply by chance that led the Convention… to propose the insertion of Article 57 allowing the EU to negotiate privileged partnership agreements with its neighbours…Next December, the European Council is expected to decide on opening negotiations to establish a common zone for economic prosperity and permanent political cooperation structures", elements of a privileged EU/Turkey partnership.