Merkel reiterates 'no' to Turkey's EU membership

German Chancellor Angela Merkel reaffirmed her country's opposition to Turkish plans to join the European Union ahead of her meeting with Turkish President Abdullah Gul in Berlin on Tuesday, the daily newspaper Welt reported. Speaking in the southern German town of Alsfeld, Merkel stressed, 'We don't want a full (EU) membership of Turkey.' The chancellor has repeatedly advocated the privileged partnership, which would be a semi-membership, without Turkey gaining a voice in EU policy. Merkel's comments followed earlier remarks by the Turkish president who made clear it was a'strategic objective' of Ankara to become a member in the EU. At a Berlin news conference on Monday, Gul rejected anything short of membership. 'We are not going to give up this strategic objective,' he said, adding that Turkey wanted to revive the slow-paced negotiations with the EU. Gul arrived in Germany on Sunday for a four-day official visit.