ATC Head: "EU membership is no longer an attractive option"

So long as the current German and French leaders have their say, Turkey will never gain European Union membership, which is no longer even a very attractive option, American-Turkish Council head Richard Armitage told Milliyet in an interview. Armitage, a retired ambassador, argued that Turkish- US ties are improving due to military relations between the two countries and continuing US support against the terrorist PKK. He added that "zero problems with neighbors" is a good motto, but issues are more complicated in practice. As for Ankara's EU membership prospects, Armitage stressed the US' longstanding support for Turkey, adding that Turkey is headed in the right direction, despite some problems in the areas of press freedom, the status of women, and transparency in the legal process.