ANKARA
Bratislava supports Turkey's integration in the European Union, Slovakian deputy prime minister said Thursday.
"We strongly support the membership of Turkey in the EU," Miroslav Lajcak said during his meeting in Ankara with Turkey's Minister of EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator, Volkan Bozkir.
"Turkey's membership will enrich and strengthen the EU," Lajcak said.
Turkey applied for EU membership in 1987. Accession talks began in 2005.
However, negotiations hit a stalemate in 2007 because of Turkey’s position on the Cyprus issue and opposition to its full EU membership by German and French governments.
Turkey does not recognize Southern Cyprus, which is a member of the EU.
Turkey has to successfully conclude negotiations with the EU in 35 policy chapters, which involve reforms and adoption of European standards to become an EU member.
So far, 14 chapters have been opened, while 17 remain blocked and another four have yet to be discussed. Only one chapter has been opened in the past three years.
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