Turkey expressed sound determination to maintain its EU negotiation process

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish President Abdullah Gul expressed Turkey's sound determination to maintain its EU negotiation process.

Holding a joint news conference together with President Anibal Cavaco Silva of Portugal, who is currently paying a state visit to Turkey, President Gul said," our allied countries support each other in the international area. Portugal is one of the countries extending full support to Turkey's EU membership process."

"Besides the bilateral relations, the EU-related issues and recent international developments were high on agenda of our meeting with President Silva," he said.



President Gul said that Turkey was determined to further improve its economic and commercial relations with Portugal. "Portugal has great relations with Latin American and African countries while Turkey is an influenced country in the Middle East, Caucasus and Asia. We can cooperate especially in the third countries," he added.

Replying to a question about recent statements of Germany and France about privileged partnership for Turkey instead of full membership, President Gul said, "The EU unanimously decided to open membership negotiations with Turkey. It is a binding decision for all member countries and everyone is aware of this fact. We are determined to maintain the negotiation process," Today's Zaman reported.



The leaders of Germany and France, Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy denounced the idea of expanding the European Union indefinitely to include new members such as Turkey. "A Europe without borders would be a Europe without identity," the French President emphasized.