Turkey premier 'to expedite entry into EU'
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the prime minister of Turkey, has pledged that he will take steps to speed up the country's entry into the EU.
Although talks began in October 2005, the process to become an EU member has become slowed of late, with various issues yet to be examined.
Additionally, Mr Erdogan predicted that France, which is set to open talks about the opening of new EU policy areas with Turkey next week, would not move to block Turkey's accession, the New Anatolian reports.
"I don't think he [Nicolas Sarkozy] will stop Turkey's EU talks or change criteria," the publication cites the official as telling journalists on a recent campaign journey.
"This process will have problems, but I (recently) talked to Mr Sarkozy and it was a positive conversation."
France's foreign minister Bernard Kouchner said last week that the country would neither attempt to "brake" nor "block" Turkey's ambitions to join the EU.
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