Portugal vows support for EU bid of Turkey

LISBON - Anatolia News Agency

President Abdullah Gül stands on the podium during a ceremony in Lisbon. AA photo

The Portuguese president yesterday voiced his support for Turkey’s EU membership bid and praised bilateral relations during a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Abdullah Gül.

“We think that it is important for Turkey to continue the EU process with the goal of full membership,” Anibal Cavaco Silva said during a joint press conference with Gül. “Because Turkey and the EU have strategic common interests. I hope that positive signals will continue during Ireland’s EU rotating presidency,” he added.

Abdullah Gül left May 5 for Lisbon for a formal visit on the invitation of his Portuguese counterpart Silva. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and Culture and Tourism Minister Ömer Çelik are accompanying Gül in his visit.

For his part, President Gül praised relations between Turkey and Portugal which both NATO members and thanked for Silva’s and Portuguese people’s support for Turkey’s EU bid. He also voiced his wish to see this support for the future. Referring to agreements on economics and the military that were signed during the visit, Gül said those agreements showed the strength of relations between the two countries.