Straw: "The EU should keep its promises to Turkey"

Saying that he was pleased with developments in Turkey, British Justice Secretary Jack Straw yesterday called on the European Union to keep its promises to Turkey. Straw added that he was impressed by Turkish politicians' efforts to advance Turkey's EU bid and sustain democracy. In related news, at a meeting in Brussels last week, Swedish Prime Minister Frederick Reinfeld criticized French President Nicolas Sarkozy's anti-Turkish stance and policies. "We shouldn't erect new walls to exclude Turkey," he said, adding that EU membership was open to all countries which fulfill its requirements. "These requirements are obvious: the rule of law, democracy and an open market economy." Predicting that Turkey's EU membership process will take a long time, Reinfeld added, "But we have to stick to the promises given to Turkey."