Italian president urged European leaders Tuesday to keep their words on carrying out talks over Turkey's membership to the European Union (EU), the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported, Xinhua reported.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, who was on a formal visit to Turkey, said Turkey's accession would help the 27-nation bloc play a more important role in the new global order, noting that EU state leaders should keep their words to launch negotiations with Turkey, according to the report.

"We have to pursue the principle of pacta sunt servanda (Latin for 'agreements must be kept')," Napolitano told a joint press conference in Ankara with Turkish President Abdullah Gul after their meeting.

Turkey started accession talks with the EU in 2005 but has only opened negotiations in 11 policy areas out of 35 that are needed before its entry.

EU members France and Germany favor a more informal partnership with Turkey instead of full membership.

The EU has urged Ankara to normalize relations with Cyprus and speed up reforms to improve human rights and democracy.

At the press conference, President Gul called on related parties not to hinder Turkey's accession negotiations, saying the EU state leaders' decision to start talks with Turkey was legally binding.

Turkey would fulfill its responsibilities, successfully complete negotiations and adapt to the EU standards, Gul said, noting that debates about Turkey's direction were futile.

A predominantly Muslim country, Turkey said it will not accept any alternatives other than full membership to the EU.

Italy was Turkey's third largest trade partner after Russia and Germany, with an annual trade volume of 13 billion euros, said Gul.

Napolitano said more than 700 Italian companies were operating in Turkey, and he called for better cooperation between Turkish and Italian firms.