Hungary wishes Turkey's EU membership by heart, says President Schmitt

ANKARA (A.A) - November 15, 2011 - Hungarian President Pal Schmitt said Tuesday that his country supported Turkey's efforts for European Union (EU) membership and that they wanted Turkey's EU membership by heart. Speaking at a joint press conference with Turkish President Abdullah Gul in Turkish capital of Ankara, Schmitt said that they appreciated Turkey's intensive efforts for peace and stability in the Balkans, Caucasus and the Middle East. Pointing out that the last time a Hungarian president visited Turkey was back in 2002, Schmitt said that Turkish-Hungarian relations continuously grew since then. The two billion USD of trade volume between Turkey and Hungary and the increasing number of tourists visiting each other are an indication of trust and friendship, Schmitt noted. We have discussed with President Gul global issues as well as issues related to the EU. Turks hold the key to EU membership, Schmitt said. I have come to Turkey along with a large delegation of Hungarian businesspeople. We will work on promoting commercial relations with Turkey at a business forum to take place in Istanbul on Wednesday, Schmitt said. During Hungary's EU Term Presidency, we would like to open the chapter on competition to negotiations as Turkey has fulfilled the necessary criteria to begin talks on this chapter, Schmitt underlined. Touching on the recent earthquakes in eastern Turkey, President Schmitt said that he wanted to offer condolences on behalf of the Hungarian people. We have taken a decision to host some of the children affected by the earthquake in Van province in Hungary during next summer, Schmitt also said.