East European countries support Turkey's EU bid

The presidents of East European countries, who spoke after the summit’s opening speech delivered by Turkish President Abdullah Gul, declared on Friday their support to Turkey's EU membership. 

Gul said his country's membership in the EU would "help transform the EU in a global player." 

"The prospect of … accession to the EU remains the main incentive for the continuation of reforms in the region," he said. "For peace and stability to become permanent, we need solidarity and understanding more than ever," Gul added.

Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski said Turkey was an exceptionally important country for the EU, while Slovenian President Danilo Turk pointed out that Turkey's membership was key to EU's becoming a global power.

Turk said pre-set perspectives for EU membership could not be changed after the beginning of negotiations.

President of Czech Republic, Vaclav Klaus, said Turkey was definitely part of Europe and Europe did not belong to anybody.

Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom said they supported Turkey's EU membership and underlined that the aim of negotiations was full membership, while Romanian Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu said, as much as Turkey needed the EU, the EU needed Turkey.

The EU opened entry talks with Turkey in 2005, but there has been little progress amid disagreements over Cyprus and opposition from France and other EU countries, including Austria.  Â

 

Photo: AFP