The Finnish president said on Wednesday that her country always stood by Turkey in its EU negotiation process, Anadolu Agency reported.
Addressing Turkish students during a gathering at Harran University in southeastern Sanliurfa province, Finland's President Tarja Halonen said there were several EU members that did not know Turkey well enough or failed to perceive the country's value for the union.
Halonen said Turkey actually had a certain desirability among EU member states, adding that its membership would be beneficial both for the union and the country itself.
The Finnish president said Turkey would become much more desirable and would gain a more important political and commercial position once it fulfilled the requested criteria.
Halonen also said that Turkey should call on its neighbors to support its EU membership process.
President Halonen has arrived in Turkey upon an invitation from Turkish President Abdullah Gul.
Halonen is the first Finnish president visiting Turkey after 12 years.