The pledge came in a statement after a routine monthly meeting of the National Security Council (MGK), the country's top policy-making body through which Turkey's powerful army adds its weight to politics.

The council "has emphasized Turkey's determination to fulfill its obligations within an understanding compatible with the (Turkish) Republic's principles, so that Turkey can start negotiations for full (EU) membership and take a place in the EU enlargement process as soon as possible," the statement said.

It also urged the EU to open accession talks with Turkey without delay.

EU leaders will assess Turkey's progress in December 2004 before deciding whether to start acession talks.

Bypassing unease in senior army ranks, the Turkish parliament last week passed a package of EU-inspired reforms aimed mainly at expanding freedom of expression and the rights of Turkey's restless Kurdish minority.

The MGK statement said the council also discussed measures against "radio and television broadcasts harmful to the country's security" -- an apparent reference to Kurdish-language broadcasts which were legalized with last week's reform package.

Authorities fear that rebellious Kurds could use new broadcasting freedoms to promote violence and separatism.

Even though the Turkish army is offficially in favor of EU membership, senior generals are known to have concerns that enhanced liberties may play into the hands of Kurdish separatists and radical Islamists.

Ankara is set to push soon for more changes, this time aimed at curbing the army's political influence, a key EU demand.

But such reforms could prove painful for the government of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), which is viewed with suspicion by the staunchly secularist army because of its Islamist roots.

WAR.WIRE