Turkish leader: "Turkey will press forward with EU path despite summit letdown"
Associated Press, ANKARA, Turkey, Dec. 15 - Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday Turkey was determined to press forward with its drive join the European Union despite the 15-nation bloc's refusal to grant Turkey a definite date for membership talks.

"We'll continue this journey with the same seriousness and determination. It's a period in which Turkey can make leaps in opening to the world," Erdogan, chairman of the governing party, told reporters.

EU leaders pledged at a summit Friday to open talks aimed at membership with mainly Muslim Turkey, but only after Turkey demonstrated in a 2004 review further democratic and economic reforms.

The decision was a letdown for Turkey, which had been lobbying for the talks to open next year.

Despite their disappointment, Turkish leaders say they will continue with democratic reforms as part of Turkey's EU bid.

"You may not get the meaning of the investment we've made and steps we've taken right away.

But in the coming months and years, we'll see the advantage," Erdogan said.

Earlier this year, parliament abolished the death penalty and opened the way for Kurdish language courses and broadcasting outstanding EU demands.

But the EU says Turkey must still fight torture -- reportedly common in Turkish prisons -- expand freedom of expression, and bring stability to its struggling economy before it can join.

"It's time do our homework," the daily Radikal headlined Sunday.

The EU offer would make Turkey the first Muslim nation to open membership talks with the EU. If it meets the criteria in a December 2004 review, the EU said Turkey can begin negotiations "without delay."