Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has told European Union (EU) diplomats that Turkey could decide not to join the bloc if the EU makes "unacceptable" conditions for its membership, Radio Netherlands reported Tuesday.       

On Friday, the leaders of the 25 EU member states will meet in Brussels to decide on the conditions Turkey must meet for accession talks to begin.

On October 6, the European Commission, the EU's executive, said in its assessment report that Turkey had achieved enough to meet the required political criteria for EU membership if the country improves further in human rights record.

Turkey's human rights situation and its policy towards Cyprus are factors that could interfere with Ankara joining the EU, according to the Radio Netherlands report.

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has told his country's parliament that Turkey would not recognize Cyprus, an EU member, until there is a lasting settlement on the divided island.

(Xinhua News Agency December 15, 2004)