Turkey says its EU membership bid progress report is 'positive'

Tue, 09 Nov 2010

Istanbul - The Turkish Minister for European Union Affairs on Tuesday welcomed the EU's latest progress report on the country's membership bid.

"I do not claim that Turkey is perfect in every aspect. The country still has major issues to solve. However, when we compare the current situation with the past, we can say that Turkey is at a much better place. Tomorrow, it will be at a much greater position," Bagis said at a press conference in Ankara.

The EU has told the Turkish government to do more to ensure press freedom, freedom of expression and religion, women's and trade union rights, as well as on integrating the Kurdish minority.

"The 2010 Turkey Progress Report is the most positive and encouraging one among the 13 reports released by the union so far," Bagis said.

Ankara's EU membership negotiations began in 2005, but have stalled in recent years because of Turkey's involvement in the Cyprus question - divided between ethnic Turks and ethnic Greek communities - and because of wider EU hostility to the integration of a large, Muslim country into the bloc.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/352765,bid-progress-is-positive.html.