Turkish Diplomat Says Turkey To Maintain EU Reforms

ISTANBUL - A Turkish diplomat said on Friday that Turkey would maintain its reforms on the road to the European Union (EU).
Oguz Demiralp, Turkey`s secretary general for the EU, said that Turkey would maintain not only political efforts, but also reforms on the road to the EU.
"It is obvious that there are circles that do not want us in the EU, but we will not give up our progress towards Europe," Demiralp said in a meeting at Istanbul`s Koc University.
Demiralp said that Turkey would carry out a political fight to proceed towards the EU.
The diplomat said that the EU had only opened negotiations with Turkey in ten chapters out of 35.
"Turkey is not responsible for the slow down in the negotiation process. Those who are exploiting EU consensus rule in the EU are countries or circles who have problems with Turkey," he said.
Demiralp said that Europe, the future success of which lied in enlargement, could not give up Turkey.
The diplomat also said that EU membership was Turkey`s right.
Turkey became an EU candidate country in December 1999. The union launched accession talks with Turkey on October 3, 2005.
(BRC-AÖ)
(DIP)