EU's Barroso and Italy's Prodi back continuation of Turkey EU membership talks

The Associated Press
Published: January 15, 2007

ROME: European Union membership negotiations with Turkey should continue despite last month's partial freeze in talks, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Italian Premier Romano Prodi said on Monday .
Barroso said that the commission "remains committed to the continuation of these negotiations for enlargement, notably for Turkey," but recognized that the process will be "long and complex."
Speaking at a joint news conference after meeting with Prodi over breakfast, Barroso reiterated that to gain membership Ankara must comply with "all conditions and criteria" imposed by the European Union. Prodi said Italy's position on the issue is "identical" to the commission's.
EU leaders decided last month to halt negotiations in eight out of 35 policy areas due to Ankara's refusal to open its ports and airports to EU member Cyprus, whose government Turkey does not recognize.
Turkey insists it will only open its ports and airports after steps are taken to end the international isolation of a breakaway Turkish Cypriot republic in the island's north.
Turkey has vowed, nevertheless, to press ahead with other reforms.
Prodi and Barroso met hours before they were scheduled to travel to Slovenia to celebrate with other EU leaders that country's entry into the euro zone. As of Monday, the euro is the only currency accepted in Slovenia, although people will be able to swap their old currency, the tolar, at banks free of charge until March 1, or exchange them at the country's central bank.