Merkel to send firm but subtle EU message to Turkey

BERLIN, Oct 4 (Reuters) Chancellor Angela Merkel will highlight the robust economic and human ties between Germany and Turkey on a visit to Ankara this week, and play down her opposition to the country's troubled EU bid.

Since taking power nearly a year ago, Merkel has tempered her public statements on Turkey's bid, keen to avoid alienating her Social Democrat (SPD) coalition partners who support the largely Muslim country's effort to join the bloc.

Her personal opposition to it, and support for a ''privileged partnership'' stopping short of full membership has not changed.

But with Germany eager to avoid a row on the issue during its EU presidency next year, she is unlikely to broadcast her views on her first visit to Turkey as chancellor -- particularly after Brussels delivered its own warnings to Ankara this week.

Merkel will arrive in Ankara at midday tomorrow, hold talks with Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and then travel to Istanbul in the evening and meet Turkish businessmen on Friday morning.

Thousands of ''Gastarbeiter'', or guest workers, from Turkey helped fuel Germany's postwar economic miracle and about 1.8 million Turks with Turkish passports live in Germany today, while another 700,000 are first and second generation Germans.

German exports to Turkey reached a record 12.8 billion euros last year and imports a record 8.3 billion euros.

Merkel is expected to press Turkey to choose European Eurofighter jets over US-made F-35 fighters as it nears a 10 billion dollar arms decision.

TENSIONS There are tensions in the relationship. Erdogan has accused Germany of making mistakes in integrating immigrants, calling its treatment of Turks and Muslims unacceptable.

A pious Muslim with roots in political Islam, Erdogan called the Pope's comments linking the Muslim faith to violence ''ugly''.

A number of German conservatives have denounced Turkish reaction to the Pope and expressed scepticism over its EU bid.

''If we don't see signifant advances in reforms, I think the talks between Ankara and the European Union should be suspended from January,'' said Juergen Ruettgers, deputy leader of Merkel's Christian Democrats.

Merkel is likely to deliver a subtler but firm message to Erdogan, echoing that of EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn on Tuesday -- Turkey must move faster on reforms and open its ports to traffic from EU member Cyprus to keep its bid intact.

REUTERS MS PM1733