By Sibel Ugurlu
ANKARA (AA) – Making statements excluding Turkey in the EU accession process or denying its candidacy is of “no use “, Turkey's foreign minister said on Thursday.
Turkey expects full EU membership and it “shouldn't be faced with political obstacles, ” Mevlut Cavusoglu said during a joint news conference with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and EU Neighborhood Policy Minister Johannes Hahn in the capital Ankara.
According to Cavusoglu, each political obstacle set by the bloc against Turkey prevents the growth, prosperity and political stability of the EU.
Recalling terrorist attacks both in Turkey and in the EU countries in recent years, Cavusoglu said close cooperation against foreign terrorist fighters and elements feeding terrorism in the region would be for the benefit of both the EU and Turkey.
“We expect more concrete support from the EU member states in our counter-terrorism efforts, ” Turkish FM said.
Turkey applied for membership in the European Economic Community (a precursor to the EU) in 1987. It became eligible for EU membership in 1997 and accession talks began in 2005.
