CDU: Turkey not Major Election Issue

Leaders of Germany's opposition Christian Democrats said Monday that their objection to Turkey's membership in the European Union will not be a top priority of their election campaign. Chancellor Schröder has been outspoken for his support for Turkey's EU membership, while challenger Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats advocate a lesser, so-called "privileged partnership" with the country. A senior member of Merkel's campaign team for the Sept. 18 vote rejected a media report that his party was considering giving the Turkey issue a much higher profile in its campaign. Merkel suggested Sunday night that Turkey, and foreign policy in general, would play only a minor role in her campaign.