Turkish minister: Country's interests key in EU bid

ADANA, Turkey

Turkey's EU minister has said that Turkey's national interests are the key point for Turkey in relations with EU.

"Undoubtedly, our EU membership process is a process that we look from the angle of our national interests. For us, the essential thing is Turkey's national interests," Omer Celik said Thursday during a meeting on EU studies in Turkey's southern province of Adana.

"No doubt, our relations with EU is very important in terms of global, regional, and bilateral relations. But beyond this, what we can present to our people is more important than anything," he added.

Turkey formally applied to become an EU member in 1987, while accession talks began in 2005.

On Nov. 24, European lawmakers voted to approve a non-binding motion to freeze EU-membership talks with Turkey.