Turkey's membership significant to EU: British foreign secretary

ANKARA, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said here Thursday Turkey's membership would be a significant symbol of the European Union (EU) as a union of different values, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

At a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara, Miliband called for a quick settlement to the Cyprus issue, a major obstacle in Turkey's EU membership bid, said the report.

The visiting top British diplomat held talks with Davutoglu and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on Thursday.

Davutoglu said the two discussed bilateral relations, regional developments and Turkey's relations with the EU.

He also appreciated Britain's support for Turkey's EU accession process.

A predominantly Muslim country, Turkey started accession talks with the EU in 2005, but has only opened negotiations in 11 policy areas out of 35 that are needed before its entry.

In an interview with Turkish newspaper Hurriyet Daily News on Wednesday, Miliband said Turkey should take brave steps toward the European community despite recent debate about whether the country's foreign policy is shifting away from the West.

Both Turkey and the EU should make brave decisions and fulfill their commitments, he told the newspaper, saying Europe has pledged a fair accession process for Turkey and it must deliver.

"I actually think that... there is more commitment now to the fact that we have to honor our side of the bargain... than there was six months ago," he said.

He noted the membership negotiations were moving at a slower pace than either Turkey or Britain would like to see, adding that Britain "is committed to an open process with Turkey and the process has been kept open."