Visiting Slovenian President Danilo Turk stressed on Wednesday that Slovenia has displayed its active support to Turkey's accession to the European Union during the Slovenian EU Presidency in the first six months of 2008, Xinhua reported.
Turk made the remarks at a joint press conference with Turkish President Abdullah Gul following their meeting in the Turkish capital of Ankara.
The Slovenian president said the EU will gradually realize Turkey's strategic importance better.
He expressed his respect for the reform process in Turkey in the areas of economy, democracy and judiciary as well as the international role undertaken by Turkey.
He said Turkey's temporary membership to the UN Security Council was also important, noting that the positive role undertaken by Turkey in international matters could contribute to cooperation and stability.
Turk said the relations between Slovenia and Turkey is at a perfect level and there is need for enhancement of cooperation in the areas of service sector, tourism and logistics.
For his part, Gul thanked his Slovenian counterpart for his support to Turkey's EU membership negotiations, and expressed his belief that this support would continue, saying Turkey would fulfill its duties on the road to the EU.
"Turkey will go on with its reforms during the negotiation process, and when the European Commission says Turkey successfully ends negotiations and is ready for full membership, EU nations will decide about Turkey's membership," said Gul.
Gul said Turkey would respect the decision of the EU nations but warned against causing problems for Turkey when Turkey was trying to change itself during the negotiation process, saying it was contradicting European values.
Gul also said that Turkey and Slovenia have shared cooperation based on mutual respect and confidence.
Turk is the first Slovenian president to visit Turkey in almost15 years. Gul said he saw this visit as an opportunity to boost bilateral relations.
Turkey became an EU candidate country in December 1999. The union launched accession talks with Turkey on October 3, 2005.
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