Istanbul -- German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle Thursday said that Germany supports Turkey's efforts to join the European Union and stands behind any agreements made between Ankara and Brussels. "Some have asked whether the new German government wants to close the door to [EU] membership for Turkey," Westerwelle told a conference of Turkish ambassadors in Ankara.
"I will tell you quite clearly: What the EU and Turkey have agreed stands. And that applies to this German government, too. I am committed to that."
Turkey is the first stop on a trip that will also take Westerwelle to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Westerwelle heads the Free Democrat Party (FDP), the new junior partner in Chancellor Angela Merkel's governing coalition. This is his first extended trip abroad since taking office in October.
Another member of Germany's governing coalition, the Christian Social Union (CSU), is hostile to Turkey joining the EU. But an accord made between the parties when they formed their coalition says the Turkey-EU accession negotiations should be open to any outcome.
Westerwelle has several times praised Turkey's efforts at modernizing reforms, while saying more progress is needed, something he repeated on Thursday.
"I would like to express my respect and my deep respect to the Turkish government, Parliament and the active Turkish civil society for making progress on EU reforms," Westerwelle said.
"I encourage you to press on."
During a press conference with Westerwelle, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu thanked Westerwelle for expressing support for Ankara's EU bid.
"Germany is one of the founders and a leading country in the EU," he said.
"Undoubtedly, Germany has a strategic perspective about Turkey-EU relations. This perspective will have positive future impacts on the future international positions of Turkey, Germany and the EU," Davutoglu said.
Westerwelle is also scheduled to meet Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday. On Friday he will meet Egemen Bagis, Turkey's top EU negotiator, in Istanbul.
Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/302556,german-foreign-minister-pledges-support-for-turkeys-eu-bid--update.html.
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