German FM calls for fair treatment of Turkey's EU accession bid

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle yesterday called for fair treatment of Turkey 's European Union accession negotiations. In remarks published in a German daily, Westerwelle called Turkey a reliable partner in the accession talks, adding that it has the right to demand that its EU accession talks be conducted fairly. Stressing that the EU accession perspective is a key source of power for reform efforts in Turkey , Westerwelle also urged Turkey to do more to meet the Union 's accession criteria. Westerwelle is also the leader of the Free Democratic Party of Germany (FDP), a member of Germany 's three-party coalition government led by Chancellor Angela Merkel. In related news, a group of deputies led by Annemie Neyts Uyttebroeck, the leader of the Liberal Democrats Group in the European Parliament, met with Turkish Confederation of Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSKON) head Rizanur Meral in Istanbul over the weekend. During the meeting, Uyttebroeck said Turkey has come a long way in terms of reform efforts in recent years, urging that promises given to Turkey on its EU accession bid be kept. Expressing his group's firm support for Turkey 's EU aspirations, he also said they support Ankara 's recently announced constitutional reform package.