The European Union came under increased US pressure today to give Turkey a date to start talks to join the bloc, with Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell urging the union to open its doors to Ankara.
Mr Powell's telephone call to Foreign Minister Mr Per Stig Moeller of Denmark, which now holds the rotating EU presidency, is just the latest effort by Washington to persuade the EU to grant Turkey a date to start formal accession negotiations.
The EU is due to announce its decision on Turkey's faltering membership bid later today, at the start of a two day enlargement summit in Copenhagen.
US President George W Bush called Danish Prime Minister Mr Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Wednesday, urging the EU to welcome Turkey, the only Muslim member of NATO and a key regional ally for Washington, to the European club.
For Washington, Turkey offers a strategically key position, with one foot in Europe, the other in the Middle East, and crucially borders Iraq, potentially providing the US with a platform to launch a military strike against Baghdad.
AFP