by Zheng Jinfa

   ANKARA, Oct. 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gulon Wednesday defined the recommendation of the European Commission(EC) to open negotiations with Turkey as a historic step not only for Turkey, but also for the European Union (EU).

   Meanwhile, Gul emphasized that full membership negotiations for the entry into the EU should be opened in months, not years.

   The foreign minister made the remarks at a press conference after the EC recommended earlier in the day to start dialogue with Turkey, saying that EU leaders would convene on Dec. 17 to make a definite decision.

   Turkey, a Eurasian country, expressed its desire for the first time to join the European Economic Community, the EU's predecessor,in 1963 by signing the so-called Association Agreement.

   From then on, Turkey has been making efforts, from loosely to intensively, to enter the European bloc.

   It took until 1999 for the EU to grant Turkey a membership candidacy. But Ankara was denied the opportunity to start accession talks after failing to meet the Copenhagen criteria on democracy and human rights reforms.

   Welcoming the EC report, Gul said that Turkey has beenundergoing a screening process over the last four years, and the success of reforms undertaken by Turkey has been acknowledged.

   Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Gul said that the government led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has set the EU membership as a strategic goal and has accordingly fulfilled its responsibilities in order to pave the way for the opening of negotiations.

   "Our government is committed to continuing in this direction,"he affirmed.

   However, Gul rejected any criteria for Turkey that is different from other EU candidates as well as from past practices.

   "These proposals which are in contradiction with the decisions taken at the Helsinki European Council of December 1999 as regardsthe principle of equal treatment for Turkey as other candidates need further discussions," he said.

   "Turkey hopes that the EU member states will on Dec. 17 take anunconditional decision without giving rise to any discrimination or unequal treatment," he added.

   Though largely favorable, the EC report also warned that much more work has to be done to meet the criteria for EU membership set at the Copenhagen EU summit in 1993.

   It said that the talks are an "open-ended" process whose outcome will not necessarily lead to Turkey's entry into the EU.

   In addition, the EC warns of suspension of the talks if Turkey seriously breaches EU principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law.

   EC President Romano Prodi said "we must take the time needed to make sure all the important reforms adopted become day-to-day reality for Turkish citizens."

   "Taking all the relevant factors into account, we believe that Turkey's accession to the EU may make a positive contribution to the EU," he said.

   Turkey, a secular Islamic country, is trying to clear the hurdles on the way to the EU concerning human rights, democracy,the Kurds, agricultural policies and northern Cyprus.

   Hansjorg Kretschmer, head of EC office in Turkey, said on Wednesday that Turkey has taken magnificent steps in the last two to three years.

   He said that the Turkish government has pursued a very successful reform program, especially in terms of cultural rights of Kurds.

   Kretschmer said that start of the broadcast and education in mother tongue is a very positive step and forms the beginning,adding that reforms in this area should continue.

   Praising recent positive developments in the Turkish economy and inflation decrease, he urged Turkey to do more to meet international standards.

   Most Turks are cautiously optimistic about the future.

   The liberal daily Milliyet said in a columnist Tuesday that "it will not be an easy process ... Turkey will need strong political resort and major preparations to go through the long and difficult negotiating process."  Enditem