ID :
171662
Tue, 03/29/2011 - 17:15
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/171662
The shortlink copeid
Finnish president says her country supports Turkey's EU talks
ANKARA (A.A) - 29.03.2011 - Finnish President Tarja Halonen on Tuesday said Finland supported Turkey's European Union membership talks, adding that her country would continue to promote Ankara's accession.
"We do not know why certain countries are so hesitant about Turkey's EU membership. You should continue with the negotiations fast. The EU will be bigger and stronger with Turkey," Halonen told a joint press conference with her Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul in the Turkish capital, Ankara.
Halonen said the accession process had never been easy for any of the EU members, adding that candidate countries should focus on the membership itself instead when that would happen.
"The candidate countries usually wonders when they would become a member. But the important thing is the marriage not the wedding. The important thing is to get prepared for the marriage," Halonen said.
The Finnish president said Finland and Turkey worked together in the Council of Europe and in the United Nations, adding that the two countries could also cooperate in trade, specifically in the field of renewable energy.
"We do not know why certain countries are so hesitant about Turkey's EU membership. You should continue with the negotiations fast. The EU will be bigger and stronger with Turkey," Halonen told a joint press conference with her Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul in the Turkish capital, Ankara.
Halonen said the accession process had never been easy for any of the EU members, adding that candidate countries should focus on the membership itself instead when that would happen.
"The candidate countries usually wonders when they would become a member. But the important thing is the marriage not the wedding. The important thing is to get prepared for the marriage," Halonen said.
The Finnish president said Finland and Turkey worked together in the Council of Europe and in the United Nations, adding that the two countries could also cooperate in trade, specifically in the field of renewable energy.
