Turkish PM slams Berlin and Paris over "two-faced" attitude

"We agree on many things when I talk to them," Erdogan said in a reference to French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"But when we turn our back, things change," he charged in an interview published by the Spanish daily El Pais.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have suggested that Turkey should be offered a "privileged partnership" rather than full EU membership.

"What France and Germany are doing with us is not right," Erdogan complained, accusing Paris and Berlin of "changing the rules in the middle of the game."

"They impose conditions that are not within the European norms so we cannot join the EU," the premier said.

Turkish society and the Muslim world saw the EU as wanting to remain a "Christian club," Erdogan complained, however saying Turkey had not "lost hope" about entering the 27-nation bloc.

Turkey would accept an "integration," but not a "cultural assimilation," the premier explained.

El Pais interviewed Erdogan prior to his visit to Spain on Monday.

The Spanish EU presidency was expected to make use of the bilateral Spanish-Turkish meeting to discuss Turkey's relations with the EU. Spain has given its backing to Turkey's aspirations to become a EU member.

/Trend News/