By Constant Brand - The Associated Press

BRUSSELS - Turkey’s entry into the European Union is neither guaranteed nor automatic, despite the historic start of entry talks with Ankara, EU leaders warned yesterday, adding that accession will depend on whether Europe can absorb a poor, mainly Muslim nation.

Officials at EU headquarters gave a sobering appraisal of the tough hurdles ahead for Turkey, saying detailed talks will only begin in about a year.

“Turkey must win the hearts and minds of European citizens. They are the ones who at the end of the day will decide about Turkey’s membership,” European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said. “Accession, as for every country, is neither guaranteed nor automatic.”

In Paris, French President Jacques Chirac said Turkey must undergo a “major cultural revolution” to fulfill EU membership conditions. “Will it succeed? I cannot say,” he said.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, said negotiations would take a long time, and would mean a “very big change” for the Europe and Turkey. “It will be an issue of controversy for years to come,” he told reporters in London.

EU Expansion Commissioner Olli Rehn warned that while Turkey had to meet economic and political reforms, the EU also had to prepare itself to absorb a nation of 70 million people. He cautioned against allowing Turkey in until the EU had pushed through its own reforms.

“We are talking about 10-15 years time frame,” Rehn said. “For the sake of Europe, we need to be able to solve our domestic European problems,” he added, listing the EU’s faltering economies, failure to agree on a new EU budget and public opposition to Turkey. “It’s clear to me there is a certain enlargement fatigue in Europe,” Rehn said.

At least two EU countries — France and Austria — have said they intend to hold referendums on whether Turkey should be allowed to join the bloc.