Duitse kanselier Schröder steunt EU-lidmaatschap Turkije (en)

During a key visit to Turkey, German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has indicated that he supports Turkish membership of the EU.

In an interview with the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet, Mr Schröder said: "If Turkey fulfils the Copenhagen criteria, which means democracy and rule of law are ensured, human rights are kept and minorities are appropriately protected, then accession negotiations can start".

However, he also said that Ankara must "must make its contribution to the resolution of the Cyprus question" - the divided island that will join the EU on 1 May.

This official visit, which began yesterday (22 February), is the first by a German Chancellor since 1993 and is being watched keenly by both other EU member states as well as in Germany - where about 2.5 million people of Turkish origin live.

The visit also follows that of Angela Merkel, head of the German opposition Christian Democrat Party, to Turkey last week. Her suggestion that Turkey should only have a 'special partnership' with the EU was firmly rebuffed by the Turkish government.

Mr Schröder's words are now set to unleash another furious debate in Germany about whether the 70-million-strong, mainly Muslim country should join the EU.

That debate will take on EU proportions later this year when member states are to decide whether Turkey has fulfilled human rights and democracy criteria allowing it to open membership negotiations with the European Union.

Turkey first applied to join in 1963, and formally became a candidate in 1999. Until now, human rights issues have always been cited by the Union as a reason for it not starting negotiations.