ANKARA - President Suleyman Demirel of Turkey has written to the 15 EU leaders asking them not to forget Turkey's bid for full membership when they meet in Dublin. In his letter, Mr Demirel said Turkey has a privileged position for full EU membership because it is a stable, secular and democratic country.
Turkey's Islamist Prime Minister, Mr Necmettin Erbakan, has turned down an invitation to dine with EU ministers during the summit, saying he did so to warn Europe about its coolness towards Turkey.