OHRID - Presidents of East European countries extended support to Turkey`s EU membership in their speeches at the 15th Summit of Presidents of Central European States in Macedonia.
Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski said Turkey was an exceptionally important country for the EU, while Slovenian President Danilo Turk pointed out that Turkey`s membership was key to EU`s becoming a global power.
Turk said pre-set perspectives for EU membership could not be changed after the beginning of negotiations.
President of Czech Republic, Vaclav Klaus, said Turkey was definitely part of Europe and Europe did not belong to anybody.
Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom, said they supported Turkey`s EU membership and underlined that the aim of negotiations was full membership.
Romanian Foreign Minister Lazar Comanescu said as much as Turkey needed the EU, the EU needed Turkey.
(OZG-AY)