Deputy FM Koru asks EU to open new chapters

Speaking at the EU-Turkey Conference of Journalists event in Istanbul, Deputy Foreign Minister Naci Koru said that Turkey has improved its economy and raised the standards of its democracy, but added that Turkey's accession process to the EU has remained in deadlock for the last three years. "17 chapters were blocked for political reasons. Our accession process has almost come to a standstill. Since 2010, no new chapters have been opened, under five consecutive presidencies of the EU. The opening of new chapters would become a strong and clear sign in terms of Turkey's full EU membership," Koru said. Touching on the Syria issue, Koru criticized the lack of support from international society. "We have taken a great responsibility by acting sensitively towards the humanitarian tragedy in Syria and standing next to the people who are in search for their democratic rights. We are hosting 400,000 Syrians in our territory. But unfortunately the international support on the issue is quite low," Koru said.