The EU's assessment "will be fair, objective and honestand will take into account the impressive progress made inTurkey," Verheugen told reporters after holding talks withForeign Minister Abdullah Gul. He said the decision would also be "clear and firm" inreply to suggestions that the EU's report may not bedecisive. Turkey has in the past five years passed sweeping reformsto meet EU membership conditions, such as abolishing thedeath penalty and granting greater cultural rights toKurds. The EU has welcomed the reforms. "We will not hide the fact that there are difficulties insome areas and that implementation is not complete,"Verheugen said, quickly adding: "But that's normal." During his five-day stay in Turkey, Verheugen is scheduledto travel to Diyarbakir, the largest city in the overwhelmingly Kurdish southeast. Verheugen is also to hold talks with Turkey's businesscommunity in the Aegean port city of Izmir. Gul said at a press conference with Verheugen that Turkeywould continue to carry out democratic reforms regardlessof any EU decision. "There is no question of us saying: 'We've reached ourstation, let's get out," Gul said.--SPA1354 Local Time 1054 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/198588