The federal government basically supports Turkey in...

The federal government basically supports Turkey in its efforts to get accepted into the EU. Government spokesman Bela Anda said in Berlin that Germany has always been one of the countries that support a rapprochement between Turkey and the EU. Nevertheless, Germany will "not" adopt a "special role" in this matter. The federal government is in agreement with its EU partners on this issue. According to a report by "Focus Online", during a recent meeting with European Council President Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (Social Democratic Party of Germany) advocated a clear prospect for Turkey. Referring to the official minutes of the conversation, Schroeder is quoted as saying: "I am very much in favour of setting down a date for the beginning of the talks in Copenhagen." Now the point is to support the pro-European forces in Turkey. Anda pointed to "remarkable" progress in Turkey, such as the abolition of the death penalty.