Turkey, EU to work together to maintain negotiation process: EUofficial

European Union's Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn on Wednesday expressed his belief that Turkey and the EU would work together to find solution to several problems which will enable the parties to maintain the negotiation process.

Rehn, who came to Ankara to mark the first anniversary of the opening of entry talks between Turkey and the EU, made the remarks at a joint news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul in Turkish capital Ankara.

Rehn said that there was a difficult and long period ahead of Turkey, both Gul and he were determined to this end, adding that the Progress Report to be released in the coming weeks would include many developments and several deficiencies.

Rehn told reporters that they were aware of the current threat of terrorism, that jeopardized not only Turkey but also the whole world.

He also appreciated the reform process in Turkey, stressing that his meetings in Ankara focused on freedom of expression and freedom of religion.

Meanwhile, the EU official highlighted the importance of Turkey 's fulfilling its commitments stemming from the additional protocol extending the Customs Union deal to cover the whole EU- member countries during the presidency of Finland.

For his part, Gul said that "Turkey is aware of its deficiencies in the EU membership process. The most important things are the determination, the capacity of overcoming difficulties and showing everyone that we have that capacity."

On the proposal of Finland about the Cyprus issue, Gul said that "if we succeed in resolving the Cyprus issue, it will be beneficial for everyone. Together with Greece and Cyprus as a whole, we can create an area of cooperation in the eastern Mediterranean."

Since the opening of accession talks on Oct. 3 last year, the EU stepped up charges of slow down in reform pace and urged Ankara to amend Article 301 and to open its ports and airports to traffic from member Greek Cyprus.

Source: Xinhua