Turkey very 'patient' in EU candidacy: Klaus

ANKARA-Hürriyet Daily News

Turkish President Abdullah Gül (R) welcomes his Czech counterpart in Ankara. HDN photo

Turkey has been very patient while enduring the candidate process for European Union membership, the Czech Republic’s president said yesterday.“I wouldn’t be so patient,” President Vaclav Klaus said in a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gül.

The Czech Republic supported Turkey’s EU membership, he said, and the economic crisis in the union would not hinder Turkey’s membership.“On the contrary, those are reasons for Turkey’s membership. Europe needs to wake up, shake and change,” the Czech president said.

That shaking would take place with Turkey’s accession to the EU, Klaus said.