"EU commissioner reassures Turkey over bid to join
Friday, 08 October 2010 21:35 Mohideen Mifthah
ISTANBUL, Oct 8 (Reuters) - A European Commissioner reassured Turkey on Friday that its membership bid was on track, days after Turkish leaders aired suspicions that some EU members were stalling the entry of a Muslim country to the club.
“We need Turkey and Turkey needs the EU,” Maria Damanaki, Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries told journalists during a visit to Istanbul.
“I have believed that for years,” said Damanaki, a Greek former politician.
Last month's referendum result on constitutional reform in Turkey was a big positive, she said. The changes are meant to bolster Turkey's democracy and lessen chances of military coups that have blighted the country's history."
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