NICOSIA, Cyprus – Slovenia’s president says he supports Turkey’s full membership in the European Union and disagrees with those who accept a “drift” away from that goal.
But Danilo Turk said on Tuesday that Turkey must fulfil all criteria to join the bloc.
Turkey started EU entry talks in 2005 but has made little progress because of a dispute over Cyprus and resistance by several EU nations including France and Germany.
Cyprus was split into a Greek Cypriot south and a Turkish Cypriot north in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup by supporters of union with Greece. The internationally recognized south — which Turkey doesn’t recognize — represents the island in the EU.
Turkey refuses to open its ports to trade with the south — a condition for EU entry.