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Slovakia signal support for Turkey's EU membership bid
Nov 2, 2009, 12:38 GMT
Bratislava - Slovakia supports Turkey's membership bid for the European Union and thinks the country is on track to fulfilling accession criteria, Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic said Monday.
He was speaking after meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Abudllah Gul, in Bratislava, the TASR news agency reported.
Gasparovic emphasized that Slovakia supports Turkey as a future component of the EU and said that the more responsible members the EU had, the stronger politically and economically it would become.
Gul said that he sees great potential in development of Turkey's commercial co-operation with Slovakia. Trade between the two countries exceeds a billion euros (1.5 billion dollars). 'There is room for broader economic cooperation,' the Turkish president said.
The French and German governments lead opposition to Ankara joining the EU, with the British government in favour.
Gul opened his official visit to Slovakia on Sunday. Together with Gasparovic, he was to take part in the Slovak-Turkish Economic Forum on Monday, to visit the University Library and to tour Bratislava's Old Town.
Tuesday, Gul is to meet with Pavol Paska, the chairman of parliament, and to visit Comenius University and Devin castle.
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