ANKARA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) — Czech Prime Minister Marek Topolanek Wednesday said his country support Turkey’s full-fledged membership in the European Union, rejecting any privileged partnership or such formulas.
The Czech Republic “supports an unconditional EU accession for Turkey. Privileged partnership or such formulas cannot be accepted,” Topolanek told a joint press conference in Ankara with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his official visit to Turkey.
“Any candidate country which complies with the criteria should have the rights to become an EU member,” he said, adding that “This is how the union can strengthen security, prosperity and stability.”
Turkey has been seeking an EU membership. The country launched accession talks with the European Union since 2005, but the negotiation have only tackled eight out of the total 35 chapters so far.
The EU has criticized Turkey over its slow reforms concerning the freedom of speech and the rights of non-Muslim groups as well as women, and corruption.
Czech PM says support Turkey’s unconditional EU accession_English_Xinhua.