Czech President: I Would Like To Openly Stress That I Favor Turkey's E.U. Membership

ISTANBUL (AA) - ''I would like to openly state that I favor Turkey's membership to the European Union (EU),'' Czech Republic President Vaclav Klaus said on Thursday.
     The Czech President, currently in Turkey as the honorary guest of Forum Istanbul 2005, delivered a speech at the Forum.
     Klaus said his statements reflected the views of a country that had got rid of a communist regime 15 years ago. ''Honestly, I think the EU should be open not only to Turkey but also to every country which is open and ready to access to the EU.''
     Klaus said, ''I think nobody in Europe has the right to consider himself the owner of Europe.''
     (AY-MS)
2005-05-05