ISTANBUL - Turkish Foreign Minister and Chief Negotiator for EU Talks Ali Babacan said on Saturday that Turkey expected several European countries to display a stronger political will against terrorist organization PKK.
Delivering a speech at the inauguration of "The 5th Bosphorus Conference" in Istanbul, Babacan said PKK's activities in Europe should be followed closely and necessary precautions should be taken with a more serious determination.
Commenting on Turkey's EU membership process, Babacan said, "we are ready for negotiations in many chapters. This is written in European Commission's reports as well. Chapters on education and culture, energy, as well as economic and monetary policy are some of them."
Babacan said the European Commission declared in several reports that "Turkey was completely ready to open these chapters to negotiation", however, such chapters could not be opened currently as certain countries displayed efforts to prevent it.
"We do not demand a privileged treatment, but an equal and fair stance in our EU process. We are expecting a commitment to previous promises," Babacan also said.
Commenting on Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders' recent talks which created an optimist atmosphere in Cyprus, Babacan said Turkey strongly supported the current process in the island.
"This is a window of opportunity, but it will not stay open forever. We believe it is important to move forward and reach a solution as long as it is open," Babacan said.
(DO-EÖ)
(DIP)