ZAGREB, Oct 25 (AFP) - Austrian President Heinz Fischer said Monday the European Union should start membership negotiations with Turkey.
"I believe that negotiations with Turkey should start, but under the condition that a date for its possible full-fledged membership in the bloc be clearly indicated," Fischer told the Vecernji List daily in Croatia.
Fischer emphasized that in Austria, which has a large Turkish immigrant population, Ankara's membership in the EU was an "extremely emotional issue."
However he warned that it was still too early to talk about whether Turkey was ready to join the EU.
"It is incontestable that Turkey has made a considerable improvement during the past few years and that it is expected that it continues to do so," he said.
"However, it is too early to talk about Turkey's maturity for the EU."
Three out of four Austrians oppose Turkey joining the EU, according to an opinion poll published earlier this year.
The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, said earlier this month that Turkey had fulfilled the required democracy norms and recommended the inauguration of talks.
European leaders will decide on December 17 whether to heed the commission's recommendation and set an agenda for talks on Turkey's eventual admission into the 25-member union.
Fischer's interview was published ahead of his official visit to Croatia due on Wednesday.