Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 21
Rufiz Hafizoglu-Trend:
The EU continues to mislead Turkey, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in his interview with Rossiyskaya gazeta.
According to Erdogan, this situation is upsetting for the country.
He said that many years later the next round of negotiations opened.
After the EU opened the 22nd round of negotiations with Ankara, Turkey offered to open the 23rd and 24th rounds as well, the prime minister said.
Erdogan said that Ankara had hoped to join the EU after the presidential elections in France.
"Now we continue work with the participation of the Ministry for EU Affairs established in Turkey," he said.
Erdogan stressed that a country cannot be misled during 50 years.
Turkey's accession to the European Union has lost its attraction for the citizens of the country, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said earlier.
According to him, previously 75 per cent of the country's population expressed a preference for Turkey's accession to the EU, but now only 20 per cent show interest.
Earlier, it was reported that the Minister for EU Affairs Egemen Bagis said Turkey may become an EU full member in the coming years if no artificial barriers are created.
According to him, Turkey has fulfilled 65 per cent of its commitments to the EU.