German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier said he was supporting the opening of three new chapter headings in accession talks carried out with Turkey.

Steinmeier spoke to the German daily Frankfurter Rundschau.

Answering a question on whether or not French President Nicolas Sarkozy's negative stance against Turkey's membership to the EU would eventually breed a difference of opinion among ruling political parties in Germany, Steinmeier said, "I am against the continuation of accession negotiations with Turkey merely in appearance. Therefore, I support the opening of three new negotiation chapter headings. If in the end, only one chapter heading is opened to negotiation, this would create an impression that the EU does not want to carry on the negotiations with Turkey. And this, would be like a blow cast to the faces of the people who are exerting efforts for Turkey's EU path in a difficult political atmosphere and under harsh conditions."

At the European Union summit, EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday and Friday are to decide whether to open a new chapter of negotiations with Turkey on its possible future membership in the 27-nation bloc.

President Nicolas Sarkozy opposes Turkey's entry into the EU, arguing that most of its territory is not in Europe and that the bloc should consolidate its new borders after taking in 12 new members since 2004. "France will not block a decision on pursuing EU negotiations with Turkey at the European Union summit," said French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner last Friday.