EU should open negotiations with Turkey

Bush held a joint press conference with EU representatives after the U.S.-EU summit held in Shannon, Ireland and extended strong support to Turkey’s EU membership.

U.S. President Bush said that Turkey was a country with a European identity and an Islam tradition.

Bush recalled that he would fly to Turkey after the press conference and said that he was looking forward to his visit to Turkey.

U.S. President Bush also recalled that he would attend NATO summit to take place in Istanbul, Turkey between June 28 and 29.

The EU announced Turkey’s candidacy at the Helsinki Summit in 1999.

EU is expected to start full membership negotiations with Turkey in its summit to be held in December.