Coordination meeting held in Turkey over EU bid

Turkey's foreign minister and chief negotiator for European Union (EU) met in Ankara on Thursday to discuss membership bid.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and State Minister and chief negotiator Egemen Bagis held a coordination meeting at the Foreign Ministry building on EU process.

"EU membership is Turkey's strategic target," Davutoglu said in the meeting.

Davutoglu said Bagis was meeting other ministers to raise motivation for EU membership.

Also, Bagis said they would exchange views on the rotating presidency of the EU, which would be assumed by Spain at the beginning of 2010, and new developments expected to occur in 2010.

Bagis also underlined importance of steps to be taken regarding visa procedures of the EU for Turkish citizens, and adoption of EU-related laws at the Turkish parliament.

Turkey became an EU candidate country in December 1999. The union launched accession talks with Turkey on October 3, 2005.


/World Bulletin/